Skip to main content
4 of 4
added 37 characters in body
SRS
  • 27.2k
  • 12
  • 106
  • 341

Are the first order phase transitions always associated with a latent heat?

Is the first order ferromagnetic transition below the critical temperature associated with latent heat?

For example, the transition of ferromagnetic configuration with all its spins aligned up to a ferromagnetic configuration with all its spins aligned down at $T=T_F<T_c$, when the magnetic field changes from $H\to -H$, is a first order transition. Is this also associated with latent heat?

If yes, how do we calculate it? $Q=T_F\Delta S$, but I think, $\Delta S=0$ because both up-aligned and down-aligned configurations have same entropy. I'm not quite sure that $\Delta S=0$ because if $\Delta S=0$ how can it be discontinuous? But for this transition to be first order, entropy should be discontinuous according to the Ehrenfest criterion.

SRS
  • 27.2k
  • 12
  • 106
  • 341