Diffusionless $\gamma$⇄$\alpha$ phase transition in polycrystalline and single-crystal cerium
Résumé
The cerium $\gamma$⇄$\alpha$ transition was investigated using high-pressure, high-temperature angle-dispersive xray diffraction measurements on both poly- and single-crystalline samples, explicitly addressing symmetry change and transformation paths. The isomorphic hypothesis of the transition is confirmed, with a transition line ending at a solid-solid critical point. The critical exponent is determined, showing a universal behavior that can be pictured as a liquid-gas transition. We further report an isomorphic transition between two single crystals (with more than 14% of volume difference), an unparalleled observation in solid-state matter interpreted in terms of dislocation-induced diffusionless first-order phase transformation