TFNR - States of Matter
Matter can exist in different fundamental forms: solid, liquid, gas, plasma (in different phases) as well as various intermediate or exotic states that arise under extreme conditions, such as extremely low temperatures, high densities, or exceptionally high energy levels.
The distinct states of Matter often result from variations in the interactions and organization of their constituent components (primarily atoms and molecules). The number of these interacting components can range from just two to an immense multitude. This diverse organization gives rise to unique collective Behaviors and emergent Properties that define each state. Consequently, states of Matter exhibit qualitatively different characteristics - such as volume, shape, spatial arrangement, dynamics, internal motion, collective motion, electric charge, etc. - leading to a wide array of Physical Phenomena.
Over time, new states of Matter continue to be identified and studied, expanding our understanding of this domain. This list does not claim to be exhaustive. In fact, there is an ongoing quest for a fundamental state of Matter - a missing piece of the puzzle, yet to be observed or experimentally verified. Evidence of this elusive state exists primarily, or exclusively, through its gravitational effects on the dynamics of vast cosmic structures (e.g., galaxies, clusters, and super-clusters) and phenomena like strong and weak gravitational lensing. This mysterious Matter is, of course, what is called Dark Matter, along with its complement, Dark Energy.
- Fundamental states
- Solid
- Liquid
- Gas
- Plasma
- Phase transitions
- Melting / Freezing
- Vaporization / Condensation
- Ionization / Deionization
- Sublimation / Deposition
- Non-classical states
- Glass
- Crystals with some degree of disorder
- Liquid crystal states
- Magnetically ordered
- Microphase-separated
- Low-temperature states
- Superconductor
- Superfluid
- Bose-Einstein condensate
- Fermionic condensate
- Rydberg molecule
- Quantum Hall state
- Photonic matter
- Dropleton
- High-energy states
- Degenerate matter
- Quark matter
- Color-glass condensate
- Very high energy states
- Hidden states of matter
- Photoinduced states
- Hypothetical states
- Supersolid
- String-net liquid
- Superglass
Links to the tables of contents of TFNR Paper
