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Rethinking hysteresis—a thermodynamic framework for history-dependent solids

Phys · · 566 words · By University
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What to know about Rethinking hysteresis—a thermodynamic framework for history-dependent solids

The article describes research by Prof. Koun Shirai of the University of Osaka regarding the thermodynamic description of hysteresis in solid materials. It explains that by including atomic configuration as a state variable, history-dependent behavior can be integrated into a thermodynamic framework rather than being viewed as a nonequilibrium phenomenon.

Propaganda risk 0%
Claims checked 6
Techniques found 0
Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Right coverage
Left14%
Center86%
Right0%

7 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Rethinking hysteresis—a thermodynamic framework for history-dependent solids Sadie Harley Scientific Editor Robert Egan Associate Editor Many solid materials "remember" their past.

Why it matters

A piece of metal may respond differently after being stretched, heated, or cooled, and memory materials rely precisely on this kind of history-dependent behavior.

Common ground

This phenomenon, known as hysteresis, is central to technologies such as memory devices, energy conversion materials, and durable structural materials.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

The article describes research by Prof. Koun Shirai of the University of Osaka regarding the thermodynamic description of hysteresis in solid materials. It explains that by including atomic configuration as a state variable, history-dependent behavior can be integrated into a thermodynamic framework rather than being viewed as a nonequilibrium phenomenon.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-05-rethinking-hysteresis-thermodynamic-framework-hist…

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0%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 100%
Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

6 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

info Single Source 5
check_circle Corroborated 1
info
“Prof. Koun Shirai, at the Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Osaka, has now shown that hysteresis in solids can be described thermodynamically by reconsidering what counts as an equilibrium state and what variables are needed to define the state of a solid.”
SINGLE SOURCE
One web search result explicitly matches the claim regarding Prof. Koun Shirai and the thermodynamic description of hysteresis. Other search results are irrelevant (enzyme catalysis, Stanford University).
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The monograph is intended for scientists working on enzyme catalysis and adja- cent areas such as chemical modeling of biological processes, homogeneous catal-.
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-3-031-5155…
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web search NEUTRAL — ... may years more most only over city some world would where later up such used many can state about national out known university united then made under him ...
https://downloads.cs.stanford.edu/nlp/data/jiwei/data/vocab_…
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web search NEUTRAL — Prof. Koun Shirai, at the Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Osaka, has now shown that hysteresis in solids can be described thermodynamically by ...
https://phys.org/visualstories/2026-05-rethinking-hysteresis…
info
“The study, published in International Journal of Thermophysics, argues that the difficulty arises because temperature and volume alone are not enough to specify the state of a solid.”
SINGLE SOURCE
One web search result explicitly confirms the study's publication in the International Journal of Thermophysics and its argument regarding temperature and volume. While Wikipedia confirms the journal exists, it does not confirm this specific study.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Thermophysics is the application of thermodynamics to geophysics and to planetary science more broadly. It may also be used to refer to the field of thermodynamic and transport properties.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermophysics
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Yeram Sarkis Touloukian (December 28, 1920 – June 12, 1981) was an American professor of mechanical engineering and director of the Thermophysical Properties Research Center (now known as CINDAS) at P…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeram_S._Touloukian
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The International Journal of Thermophysics is a bimonthly peer-reviewed scientific journal published by Springer Science+Business Media. It was established in 1980. The editor-in-chief is currently Ma…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Journal_of_Therm…
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“the complete state of a solid must include its atomic configuration—the time-averaged equilibrium positions of all atoms making up the material.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists only of dictionary definitions for the word 'complete' and does not address the scientific claim regarding atomic configuration in solids.
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web search NEUTRAL — 4 days ago · The meaning of COMPLETE is having all necessary parts, elements, or steps. How to use complete in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Complete.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complete
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web search NEUTRAL — If you complete something, you finish doing, making, or producing it. Peter Mayle has just completed his first novel.
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/comp…
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web search NEUTRAL — COMPLETE definition: 1. to make whole or perfect: 2. to write all the details asked for on a form or other document…. Learn more.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/complete
info
“The study identifies this hidden variable as the atomic configuration of the solid.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The web search results discuss hysteresis in general (crystal defects, cavity magnonic systems), but none of them specifically link the 'hidden variable' to the specific study by Koun Shirai mentioned in the claims.
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web search NEUTRAL — The nuclei are localized on crystal defects where nucleation lags are encoded. The hysteresis in structural, ferromagnetic and ferroelectric phase transitions, ...
http://article.sapub.org/10.5923.j.ajcmp.20130305.05.html
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web search NEUTRAL — Mar 25, 2024 ... We study a cavity magnonic system whose main physics is photon and magnon. Kerr effects. Sweeping a bifurcation parameter in numerical ...
https://link.aps.org/accepted/10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.137201
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web search NEUTRAL — 2 days ago ... Here, using as a bulk single-crystal model that can be prepared with or without exchange-biased hysteresis, we review and demonstrate two ...
https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.20…
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“Defects, dislocations, glass structures, and other microscopic arrangements can remain stable over finite timescales and influence material properties.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent scientific sources confirm that defects, dislocations, and glass structures influence material properties and can remain stable (e.g., Nature of excitations and defects in structural glasses, and the paper on structural defects and mechanical behaviors).
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web search NEUTRAL — Nov 8, 2019 ... First, glass and jamming transitions are distinct phase transitions, where solidity emerges at thermal equilibrium (glass transition) or at zero ...
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-13010-x
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web search NEUTRAL — We mainly emphasized the underlying deformation and fracture mechanisms and the influences of various defects on mechanical behaviors and properties, which ...
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7961825/
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web search NEUTRAL — defects in crystals (point defects, dislocation and grain boundary) that can be ... glass structure and can be identified based on the fluctuations of density, ...
https://upcommons.upc.edu/bitstreams/05ad9a2c-b938-4c77-b9cf…
info
“Koun Shirai, History Dependence in Thermodynamic Properties of Solids, International Journal of Thermophysics (2026). DOI: 10.1007/s10765-026-03763-1”
SINGLE SOURCE
The search results for 'Koun' and '2026' returned information about the University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport (KOUN), not a scientific publication. No evidence confirms the existence of the paper or the DOI provided.
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web search NEUTRAL — May 14, 2026 · Complete aeronautical information about University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport (Norman, OK, USA), including location, runways, taxiways, navaids, radio frequencies ...
https://www.airnav.com/airport/KOUN
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web search NEUTRAL — 2 days ago · METAR KOUN 252145Z 06009G15KT 10SM SCT060 BKN075 28/15 A2994. The wind is from direction 060° with a speed of 9 kt. Visibility is 10 mi. The ceiling, broken or more, is 7,500 ft. The temp…
https://metar-taf.com/metar/KOUN
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Univ of OK, Norman, OK (OUN/KOUN) flight tracking (arrivals, departures, en route, and scheduled flights) and airport status.
https://www.flightaware.com/live/airport/KOUN
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.