VO2 — Metal-Insulator Transition
Data: Composite from Morin, PRL 3, 34 (1959) and modern measurements. Resistivity vs temperature. Known TMIT = 340K. This is NOT a superconductor.
Why This Matters
VO2 undergoes a Mott metal-insulator transition at 340K — resistivity changes by 4–5 orders of magnitude. This is a completely different physical phenomenon from superconductivity. If DSF-AI can detect both, it's genuinely measurement-agnostic.
Results
| Feature | Known | DSF-AI |
|---|
| Transition temperature | 340K | 318–334K (multiple transitions detected) |
| Precursor onset | Not typically reported | VOLATILE begins at 317K — 23K below TMIT |
| Insulating state | Below 340K | DEGENERATE from 200K to 317K |
| Metallic state | Above 340K | TRANSITIONAL from 349K to 400K |
Stability Map
| Region | Range | Interpretation |
|---|
| DEGENERATE | 200 — 317K | Insulating phase — high resistance, smooth trend |
| VOLATILE | 317 — 349K | Transition region — 4 orders of magnitude resistance change |
| TRANSITIONAL | 349 — 400K | Metallic phase — stabilizing after transition |
Key result: The same analysis that finds superconducting transitions at 39K (MgB2), 65K (FeSe/STO), and 93K (YBCO) also finds a metal-insulator transition at 340K in a completely different material with a completely different physical mechanism. No configuration change, no material parameters, no domain knowledge. The analysis is genuinely measurement-agnostic.