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Metastability - Wikipedia

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In chemistry and physics, metastability is an intermediate energetic state within a dynamical system other than the system's state of least energy. A ball resting in a hollow on a slope is a simple example of metastability. If the ball is only slightly pushed, it will settle back into its hollow, but a stronger push may start the ball rolling down the slope. Bowling pins show similar metastability by either merely wobbling for a moment or tipping over completely. A common example of metastability in science is isomerisation. Higher energy isomers are long lived because they are prevented from rearranging to their preferred ground state by (possibly large) barriers in the potential energy. During a metastable state of finite lifetime, all state-describing parameters reach and hold stationary values. In isolation: The metastability concept originated in the physics of first-order phase transitions. It then acquired new meaning in the study of aggregated subatomic particles (in atomic nuc

Metastability - Wikipedia Jump to content From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Intermediate energetic state within a dynamical system For metastability in digital electronics, see Metastability (electronics) . This article needs more citations . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . Find sources: "Metastability" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR ( April 2011 ) ( Learn how and when to remove this message ) A metastable state of weaker bond (1), a transitional "saddle" configuration (2) and a sta

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