The role of anharmonicity in a variety of phase transitions controlled by pressure, including melting, brittle-to-ductile transition, and the liquid-vapour critical point

摘要

A variety of phase transitions controlled by pressure are addressed, in which anharmonicity plays a central role. After a brief discussion of the melting temperature of some transition metals as a function of pressure, the brittle-to-ductile transition is treated. Finally, quantum critical points are briefly referred to, in relation to singular behaviour of the Gruneisen ratio.