phase change
transitions between solid, liquid and gaseous states of matter, and, in rare cases, plasma
freezing
phase transition in which a liquid turns into a solid due to a decrease in thermal energy
deposition
transition from a gas to a solid
superconductor insulator transition
phase transitions from a supeconductor to an insulator
quantum phase transition
transition between different phases of matter at zero temperature
Fusion ignition
the point at which a nuclear fusion reaction becomes self-sustaining
transition temperature
temperature at which certain solid substances change from one crystal structure to another
evaporation
type of vaporization of a liquid that occurs from its surface; surface phenomenon
ionization
process by which atoms or molecules acquire charge by gaining or losing electrons
condensation
change of the physical state of matter from gas phase into liquid phase; reverse of evaporation
tin pest
deterioration of tin objects at low temperatures
plasma recombination
process by which positive ions of a plasma capture a free (energetic) electron and combine with electrons or negative ions to form new neutral atoms (gas); exothermic reaction, meaning heat releasing
Gardner transition
a phase transition in condensed matter physics
phase separation
the creation of two distinct phases from a single homogeneous mixture
melting
phase change from solid to liquid
glass transition
reversible transition in amorphous materials
sublimation
transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas state
volatilisation
vaporization of a dissolved sample, especially for use in mass spectrometry.
triple point
thermodynamic point where three matter phases exist
eutectoid
phase transformation of one solid
martensitic transformation
transformation from austenite to martensite
vaporization
phase transition from the liquid phase to vapor (either through evaporation or boiling)