tricritical
try-KRIT-ih-kuhl
Definition
Referring to a specific, more complex type of phase transition point in a physical system where three distinct phases can coexist or meet.
Etymology
Derived from the prefix 'tri-' meaning three, combined with the word 'critical,' which describes a point where a substance changes phase. It was coined in physics to describe phase transitions characterized by the intersection of three lines of critical points.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe a specific class of conformal field theory that identifies energy levels at a more specialized tipping point than the standard Ising model. It highlights how the experimental team successfully measured these precise, distinct energy ratios.
Caltech Physicists Use Advanced Quantum Technologies to Test Decades-Old Theory Predictions
Read the full article ↗Pasadena Now