Thermodynamics of critical points

FEB 01, 1968

There is in general no accurate theoretical description of the behavior of a system as it passes through its critical point. Current work, both experimental and theoretical, attempts to provide a unified theory that will be applicable to many different kinds of phase transition.

DOI: 10.1063/1.3034760

Cyril Domb

NEW EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUES have been joined by novel theoretical approaches to give great impetus to the study of phase transitions. The systems studied include vapors near their critical points, ferromagnets near their Curie temperatures, antiferromagnets near their Néel points and the superfluid transitions. All these phase transitions, although apparently very different, show surprising similarities in their behavior near the critical point.

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References

1. L. P. Kadanoff et al., Rev. Mod. Phys. 39, 395 (1967).https://doi.org/RMPHAT
2. M. E. Fisher, “The Theory of Equilibrium Critical Phenomena,” Rep. Prog. Phys. 30, 615 (1967).https://doi.org/RPPHAG
3. P. Heller, “Experimental Investigations of Critical Phenomena,” Rep. Prog. Phys. 30, 731 (1967).https://doi.org/RPPHAG

More about the authors

Cyril Domb, King's College, London.