Old Journal Club by Michelangelo Tartaglia: “Ordering, metastability and phase transitions in two-dimensional systems (J M Kosterlitz and D J Thouless)”

Title: “Ordering, metastability and phase transitions in two-dimensional systems (J M Kosterlitz and D J Thouless)”

Speaker: Alfred Benedito

Venue & Time: Blue Room / 17:00

Abstract: A new definition of order called topological order is proposed for two-dimensional systems in which no long-range order of the conventional type exists. The possibility of a phase transition characterized by a change in the response of the system to an external perturbation is discussed in the context of a mean field type of approximation. The critical behaviour found in this model displays very weak singularities. The application of these ideas to the xy model of magnetism, the solid-liquid transition, and the neutral superfluid are discussed. This type of phase transition cannot occur in a superconductor nor in a Heisenberg ferromagnet. for reasons that are given.