The Geometric Theory of Phase Transitions

Abstract

We develop a geometric theory of phase transitions (PTs) for Hamiltonian systems in the microcanonical ensemble. This theory allows to reformulate Bachmann's classification of PTs for finite-size systems in terms of geometric properties of the energy level sets (ELSs) associated to the Hamiltonian function. Specifically, by defining the microcanonical entropy as the logarithm of the ELS's volume equipped with a suitable metric tensor, we obtain an exact equivalence between thermodynamics and geometry. In fact, we show that any derivative of entropy with respect to the energy variable can be associated to a specific combination of geometric curvature structures of the ELSs which, in turn, are precise combinations of the potential function derivatives. In this way, we establish a direct connection between the microscopic description provided by the Hamiltonian and the collective behavior which emerges in a PT. Finally, we also analyze the behavior of the ELSs' geometry in the thermodynamic limit, showing that non-analyticities of the energy-derivatives of the entropy are caused by non-analyticities of certain geometric properties of the ELSs around the transition point. Finally, we validate the theory studying the PTs that occur in the $\phi^4$ and Ginzburg-Landau-like models.