First and Second order phase tarnsitions

[thearny]

First and Second order phase transitions

At a first order phase transition as energy is added the system will absorb it, it involves latent heat I s'pose, water to steam, gel to glassy etc.. but what happens in a scond order phase transition? and in both cases how is the specific heat capacity of the system affected?

 

[Gokul43201]

There is no latent heat associated with a second order phase transition. In general (and for the most part, but not always), the heat capacity in the vicinity of a phase transition goes like $C = k |T - Tc|^{-n}$. For a first order phase transition, n > 1, and there is a strong enough divergence at Tc to require a latent heat. For second order transition, n < 1.

 

[ravenprp]

In a first order phase transition, there is a discontinuity in the thermodynamic properties of the system, such as the specific heat capacity. This is because the system undergoes a change in its physical state, such as from a solid to a liquid, and there is a latent heat involved in this process. As more energy is added, the system absorbs it and undergoes a phase transition.

On the other hand, a second order phase transition does not involve a change in physical state, but rather a change in the system's internal structure or ordering. Examples of this include the transition from a paramagnetic to a ferromagnetic state, or the transition from a liquid to a superfluid. In these cases, the specific heat capacity may show a peak or a divergence at the critical temperature, but there is no discontinuity.

The specific heat capacity in both first and second order phase transitions is affected by the amount of energy added to the system. In a first order transition, the specific heat capacity will be higher near the transition temperature due to the absorption of latent heat. In a second order transition, the specific heat capacity may show a peak or a divergence at the critical temperature, but it will remain continuous throughout the transition.