Experimental detection of phase transitions by means of the chemical potential measurment

Abstract

We review some recently performed experiments concerning the detection of phase transitions in solids with the use of a single measurement of the chemical potential versus temperature. A new method of the indirect measurement of the chemical potential was demonstrated for Gd, GdsSi4 , Cr, TiNi (10% and 15% of deformation) and CuAlNiTiMn samples by means of a simple electrochemical experiment. For most cases the method allowed easily to detect all critical temperatures Tc (Gd, GdsSiQ, Tn (Cr) and the structural transition temperatures (TiNi, CuAlNiTiMn). The obtained results were in the exceptionally good agreement with other measurements and entirely supported the theoretical predictions concerning the applicability of the method. Presumably, it is also possible to detect phase transition anomalies, using the method of chemical potential measurement, either by thermoelectric or photoelectric effects.