https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-025-14517-y
Regular Article - Theoretical Physics
Dynamical and finite-size effects on the criterion of first-order phase transition
1
School of Physics, Northwest University, 710127, Xi’an, China
2
Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Theoretical Physics Frontiers, 710127, Xi’an, China
3
Peng Huanwu Center for Fundamental Theory, 710127, Xi’an, China
4
School of Physics, Beijing Institute of Technology, 100081, Beijing, China
5
Department of Physics and State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, Peking University, 100871, Beijing, China
6
Center for High Energy Physics, Peking University, 100871, Beijing, China
7
Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, 100871, Beijing, China
Received:
16
January
2025
Accepted:
14
July
2025
Published online:
26
July
2025
To identify first-order phase transitions in the dynamical process similar to the relativistic heavy-ion collisions, we investigate the dynamical behaviors of the first-order phase transition criterion in the Fokker–Planck framework. In the thermodynamic limit, the criterion can be expressed as combinations of cumulants or coefficients of an Ising-like effective potential. Our study reveals that factors such as phase transition scenarios, initial temperature, system volume, relaxation rate, and evolution trajectory have great impacts on the criterion, a larger initial temperature, a smaller volume, a larger relaxation rate, or bending of the trajectory will all lead to a reduction of the first-order phase transition signal, while volume expansion over time preserves signal integrity. Analysis along a hypothetical freezeout line shows that the signal is possibly preserved at relatively large chemical potentials.
© The Author(s) 2025
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