Peculiarities of coexistence of phases with different electric conductivities under the influence of electric current

In this study using Volmer-Zeldovich model and Ginzburg-Landau models we sh owed that in the domain of coexistence of phases under the influence of the electric current the phase equilibrium curve splits into two different cur ves for the direct and inverse phase transitions. It is demonstrated that t here exist thermodynamic regions where both phases are metastable simultane ously. The latter effect occurs due to the splitting of the phase equilibri um curves into two curves, i.e. the equilibrium curves for the direct and f or the inverse phase transitions. We investigated the dynamics of surface p hase transition in current-carrying conductors. It is showed that inductanc e change has a strong effect on the dynamics of phase transitions. At the i nitial stage of phase transition ponderomotive forces caused by the inducta nce change prevent surface crystallization and promote surface melting. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.