Effects of Temperature and Random Forces in Phase Transformation of Multi-Stable Systems

Multi-stable behavior at the microscopic length-scale is fundamental for phase transformation phenomena observed in many materials. These phenomena can be driven not only by external mechanical forces but are also crucially influenced by disorder and thermal fluctuations. Disorder, arising from structural defects or fluctuations in external stimuli, disrupts the homogeneity of the material and can significantly alter the system's response, often leading to the suppression of cooperativity in the phase transition. Temperature can further introduce novel effects, modifying energy barriers and transition rates. The study of the effects of fluctuations requires the use of a framework that naturally incorporates the interaction of the system with the environment, such as Statistical Mechanics to account for the role of temperature. In the case of complex phenomena induced by disorder, advanced methods such as the replica method (to derive analytical formulas) or refined numerical methods based, for instance, on Monte Carlo techniques, may be needed. In particular, employing models that incorporate the main features of the physical system under investigation and allow for analytical results that can be compared with experimental data is of paramount importance for describing many realistic physical phenomena, which are often studied while neglecting the critical effect of randomness or by utilizing numerical techniques. Additionally, it is fundamental to efficiently derive the macroscopic material behavior from microscale properties, rather than relying solely on phenomenological approaches. In this perspective, we focus on a paradigmatic model that includes both nearest-neighbor interactions with multi-stable (elastic) energy terms and linear long-range interactions, capable of ensuring the presence of an ordered phase. Specifically, to study the effect of environmental noise on the control of the system, we include random fluctuation in external forces. We numerically analyze, on a small-size system, how the interplay of temperature and disorder can significantly alter the system's phase transition behavior. Moreover, by mapping the model onto a modified version of the Random Field Ising Model, we utilize the replica method approach in the thermodynamic limit to justify the numerical results through analytical insights.