Aspects of Phase Changes Visible in the Verwey Transition

The Verwey phase transition in magnetite (Fe\(_3\)O\(_4\)) exhibits a variety of phenomena that are typical of phase transformations, but in a particularly striking and pronounced form. As these phenomena and their peculiarities can be easily overlooked in the observation of other phase transitions, observing the Verwey transition, where these peculiarities are clearly visible, can draw attention to them in other phase transition studies. Important and acute phenomena showing these peculiarities include: strong dependence on doping, non-stoichiometry and defects, which can even cause a change in the character of the phase transition; the complexity of the transition, which can be predicted and observed over a wide temperature range; strong electron–electron and electron–phonon coupling; and the ability to manipulate the electronic system using a magnetic field, hydrostatic pressure or uniaxial pressure. Since these properties are typical of all solids yet accentuated in this compound and the transition is easily observable using standard and sophisticated techniques, studying it may improve our understanding of any phase transformation. Abstract Published by the Jagiellonian University 2026 authors