Phase separation

Phase separation is the creation of two distinct phases from a single homogeneous mixture.^[1] The most common type of phase separation is between two immiscible liquids, such as oil and water. This type of phase separation is known as liquid-liquid equilibrium. Colloids are formed by phase separation, though not all phase separations forms colloids - for example oil and water can form separated layers under gravity rather than remaining as microscopic droplets in suspension.

A mixture of two helium isotopes (helium-3 and helium-4) in a certain range of temperatures and concentrations separates into parts. The initial mix of the two isotopes spontaneously separates into ${\displaystyle {\phantom{A}}_{\phantom{}}^{\phantom{4}}{\phantom{A}}_{\phantom{2}}^{\phantom{2}4}\mathrm{H}\mathrm{e}}$-rich and ${\displaystyle {\phantom{A}}_{\phantom{}}^{\phantom{3}}{\phantom{A}}_{\phantom{2}}^{\phantom{2}3}\mathrm{H}\mathrm{e}}$-rich regions.^[2] Phase separation also exists in ultracold gas systems.^[3] It has been shown experimentally in a two-component ultracold Fermi gas case.^[4][5] The phase separation can compete with other phenomena as vortex lattice formation or an exotic Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov phase.^[6]

• Biomolecular condensate
• Colloid
• Phase diagram
• Spinodal decomposition
• Cahn–Hilliard equation

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