# How presence of metastable state ensure that there is first order phase transition?

Recently, I took a lecture in which professor showed a graph which was similar to following figure

Professor told that if there is a metastable state, it means that there must be some kind of first order phase transition. I questioned him, how? And he replied that according to "X" theory in statistical mechanics, if there is a metastable state then there will be a first order phase transition for sure. Unfortunately, I couldn't remember the name of theory.

It does makes sense that if there is a metastable state then system will have to go toward completely stable state BUT I want to read more about that "X" theory. Is there any theory which says that metastable state ensure first order phase transition?

I am sorry for stupid question.

The idea is that, as one changes some parameter, such as the temperature, the form of this curve will change, but in the region of interest (near the phase transition) it will have two local minima, as you illustrate: one (on the left, in your diagram) higher than the other (on the right). However as the temperature changes, the free energy of the minimum on the right will become higher than that on the left, so the identity of the stable minimum will change, and the system will convert into the newly-stable state. Exactly at the transition temperature $T_c$ the minima will have the same free energy, with a barrier between them. The result is that the order parameter of the system will change discontinuously, as the temperature passes through $T_c$, and this is the characteristic feature of a first-order phase transition. There is a useful picture and a discussion at 1st order phase transition, superheating/supercooling, metastable state