Phase Boundary Visualizer
The three regimes of γ define qualitatively different physics. Drag the slider to explore where different systems live. Labeled positions on the axis are approximate (γ = 2/√Ncorr; operational Ncorr values are estimated, not precisely measured for most systems).
γ ≈ 1 — Boundary
The interesting regime. Quantum and classical effects compete. Phase transitions occur here. Chemistry lives here. Consciousness threshold (C ≈ 0.50) maps to this regime.
⚠ Ncorr placement caveat: The anchor positions use the formula γ = 2/√Ncorr with estimated Ncorr values. Two issues are unresolved: (1) Ideal gas (Ncorr = 1) and galaxies (Ncorr = 1 by convention) map to the same γ = 2.0, even though they represent physically different contexts — this reflects that “operational Ncorr” may mean something different at galactic scales. (2) The BCS superconductor preset in the γ Calculator uses Ncorr = 10,000; physical Cooper-pair coherence volumes contain ~106–109 pairs depending on material. Until a scale-invariant Ncorr counting recipe is established, γ functions partly as an estimated parameter for cross-scale placements.
The Three Regimes
γ < 0.6 — Classical
Macroscopic coherence. Many correlated particles (large N_corr, small γ) behave as one. Collective quantum phenomena emerge as classical-looking order.
γ ≈ 1 — Boundary
The interesting regime. Quantum and classical effects compete. Phase transitions occur here. Chemistry lives here. Consciousness threshold (C ≈ 0.50) maps to this regime.
γ > 1.4 — Quantum
Few correlated particles (small N_corr, large γ). Individual quantum behavior. Rapid decoherence. At γ = 2 (N_corr = 1), the single-particle limit where galaxy-scale "dark matter" signatures appear.