Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Critical exponent

In the study of phase transitions, critical exponents are numerical parameters that quantify the power-law scaling of key physical quantities—such as the order parameter, , and correlation length—as a system approaches the critical point where phases coexist and distinct behaviors emerge. These exponents capture the singular, non-analytic changes in thermodynamic and statistical properties during second-order phase transitions, where the system exhibits and long-range correlations without abrupt discontinuities. The most prominent critical exponents include β, which describes the vanishing of the order parameter (e.g., in ferromagnets or density difference in fluids) as m \sim |T - T_c|^\beta below the critical temperature T_c, with experimental values around 0.32 for three-dimensional systems like the or liquid-gas transitions. Similarly, γ governs the divergence of the (response to an external field), scaling as \chi \sim |T - T_c|^{-\gamma}, typically with \gamma \approx 1.2. Other essential exponents are α for the specific heat singularity (C \sim |T - T_c|^{-\alpha}), δ for the critical isotherm relating field and order parameter (h \sim m^\delta at T = T_c, with \delta \approx 4.8), ν for the length (\xi \sim |T - T_c|^{-\nu}), and η for the anomalous decay of spatial correlations (G(r) \sim r^{-(d-2+\eta)} in d dimensions). A defining feature of critical exponents is their universality, meaning systems with the same dimensionality, symmetry, and range of interactions—regardless of microscopic details—share identical exponent values, as revealed by the renormalization group theory, which identifies fixed points (such as the Wilson-Fisher fixed point) governing non-mean-field critical behavior below the upper critical dimension of 4. This universality class principle explains why diverse phenomena, from magnetic ordering to fluid criticality, exhibit consistent scaling laws, enabling predictions via models like the 3D Ising universality class. Experimental measurements and theoretical calculations, often refined through Monte Carlo simulations or field-theoretic methods, confirm these exponents and test scaling relations like Rushbrooke's inequality (\alpha + 2\beta + \gamma \geq 2), which must hold across all universality classes.

Fundamentals

Definition

Critical phenomena describe the singular behavior exhibited by physical systems in the vicinity of a , where macroscopic properties such as order, symmetry, or undergo dramatic changes. are broadly classified into types, involving and discontinuous jumps in thermodynamic variables, and second-order (or continuous) types, where these jumps are absent but divergences occur instead. At the critical point marking a second-order transition—such as the T_c in ferromagnets—distinct phases become indistinguishable, and the correlation length of fluctuations diverges, leading to long-range order and scale-invariant properties across the system. Critical exponents quantify this singular behavior through power-law scalings of thermodynamic quantities as the system approaches the critical point. For instance, the order parameter m, which measures the degree of order (e.g., spontaneous magnetization below T_c), vanishes as m \sim (T_c - T)^\beta for T \to T_c^-, where \beta is a critical exponent. Similarly, susceptibilities and other response functions diverge with their own exponents, reflecting the enhanced fluctuations near criticality. These exponents characterize the universality of the transition, meaning systems with the same spatial dimensionality, symmetry, and range of interactions belong to the same universality class regardless of microscopic details. The foundational description of this behavior stems from the scaling hypothesis for the singular part of the free energy density, f_s \sim |t|^{2 - \alpha}, where t = (T - T_c)/T_c is the reduced temperature and \alpha is the critical exponent for the specific heat. Thermodynamic quantities then follow from derivatives of f_s: the order parameter from the first derivative with respect to an external field, the specific heat from the second derivative with respect to temperature, and so on, yielding power laws with exponents related to \alpha. This framework assumes second-order transitions where analyticity is lost only at the critical point, enabling the derivation of universal scaling forms. Historically, the concept of critical behavior originated in the late 19th century with ' equation of state for fluids, which predicted a critical point but approximated the approach with mean-field exponents, such as \beta = 1/2. later classified transitions based on the continuity of thermodynamic derivatives, distinguishing second-order types by the absence of . However, experimental observations of non-analytic power laws, better fitting data like density jumps scaling as (-t)^{1/3}, prompted a in the mid-20th century toward the modern scaling theory, emphasizing universal exponents over classical approximations.

Main Exponents

In the study of critical phenomena, the primary static critical exponents characterize the singular behaviors of key thermodynamic quantities as a system approaches the critical point, where the reduced temperature t = (T - T_c)/T_c tends to zero, with T_c denoting the critical temperature. These exponents arise from the scaling properties of the singular part of the free energy near criticality. The six main exponents are \alpha, \beta, \gamma, \delta, \nu, and \eta, which quantify divergences or power-law decays in specific heat, order parameter, susceptibility, critical isotherm, correlation length, and correlation function, respectively. Standard notation in the literature uses t for the reduced temperature, h or H for the external field conjugate to the order parameter m, \chi for susceptibility, \xi for correlation length, G(r) for the spatial correlation function, and d for the spatial dimension. The exponent \alpha governs the singularity in the specific heat C, which behaves as C \sim |t|^{-\alpha} near the critical point. Physically, it describes the divergence or cusp in , reflecting the enhanced energy fluctuations associated with the loss of long-range order as the system approaches criticality. The exponent \beta describes the behavior of the order parameter m, such as below T_c, following m \sim (-t)^\beta for t < 0 and zero external field. It quantifies the onset of spontaneous symmetry breaking, indicating how gradually the ordered develops as temperature decreases through T_c. The exponent \gamma characterizes the divergence of the susceptibility \chi, which responds to infinitesimal external fields and scales as \chi \sim |t|^{-\gamma} at zero field. This exponent measures the system's enhanced linear response to perturbations near criticality, arising from the amplification of fluctuations. The exponent \delta pertains to the critical isotherm at t = 0, where the order parameter relates nonlinearly to the applied field via m \sim |h|^{1/\delta}. It captures the strongly nonlinear response at the critical point, highlighting the absence of linear susceptibility and the dominance of higher-order effects. The exponent \nu dictates the divergence of the correlation length \xi, scaling as \xi \sim |t|^{-\nu}. It represents the spatial extent over which fluctuations remain correlated, marking the growing scale of cooperative behavior as criticality is approached. The exponent \eta describes the anomalous decay of the correlation function at criticality, G(r) \sim 1/r^{d-2+\eta} for large separations r at t = 0. It accounts for deviations from mean-field expectations in short-distance correlations, emphasizing the fractal-like structure of critical fluctuations. A key relation among these exponents is the hyperscaling equation $2 - \alpha = d \nu, which connects the specific heat and correlation length behaviors to the system's dimensionality, valid below the upper critical dimension.

Theoretical Foundations

Mean Field Theory

Mean field theory (MFT) provides the simplest approximation for understanding critical phenomena by replacing the complex interactions between particles or with an effective average field experienced by each. In the context of Ising-like systems, the Ising model Hamiltonian H = -J \sum_{\langle i j \rangle} s_i s_j - h \sum_i s_i, where J > 0 is the ferromagnetic , s_i = \pm 1 are , the sum is over nearest neighbors, and h is an external field, is approximated by treating the neighboring as contributing an average m. This leads to an effective field h_{\text{eff}} = z J m + h, with z the , and a self-consistent equation for the m = \tanh[\beta (z J m + h)], where \beta = 1/(k_B T). A phenomenological approach equivalent to this microscopic derivation is given by , which expands the density in powers of the order parameter m: f = f_0 + a t m^2 + b m^4 - h m, where t = (T - T_c)/T_c measures deviation from the critical T_c, a > 0, b > 0, and higher-order terms are neglected near criticality. Minimizing f with respect to m yields the equilibrium behavior: for t > 0, m = 0; for t < 0, m \propto (-t)^{1/2}; and at t = 0, m \propto h^{1/3}. The specific heat C shows a discontinuity at T_c, as C \propto -T \partial^2 f / \partial T^2. These results derive the mean field critical exponents: \alpha = 0 (discontinuity in specific heat C), \beta = 1/2 (order parameter), \gamma = 1 (susceptibility), \delta = 3 (critical isotherm), \nu = 1/2 (correlation length), and \eta = 0 (correlation function). MFT becomes exact above the upper critical dimension d_{uc} = 4, where thermal fluctuations are suppressed and do not affect the critical behavior. Below d_{uc}, the Ginzburg criterion quantifies the regime of validity by comparing mean field predictions to fluctuation contributions: mean field holds when |t| \gg t_G, with t_G a small parameter scaling as t_G \sim (u / v)^{2/(4-d)}, where u measures interaction strength and v the volume; near t = 0, fluctuations dominate for d < 4, leading to non-classical exponents. Despite its simplicity, MFT fails to capture critical fluctuations, resulting in incorrect hyperscaling relations like $2 - \alpha = d \nu for d > 4, and distinguishes classical (mean ) regimes far from criticality from non-classical ones dominated by fluctuations close to T_c.

Scaling Relations

The scaling hypothesis provides a foundational framework for understanding by assuming that the singular part of the density f_s(t, h) near the critical point takes the homogeneous form f_s(t, h) = |t|^{2 - \alpha} F\left( \frac{h}{|t|^{\Delta}} \right), where t is the reduced , h is the external , \alpha is the specific heat exponent, and \Delta = \beta + \gamma with \beta and \gamma being the order parameter and exponents, respectively. This form arises from the assumption of near criticality, implying that thermodynamic quantities depend on ratios of relevant variables, leading to power-law behaviors characterized by the critical exponents. From this hypothesis, several universal relations among the exponents emerge through thermodynamic identities and homogeneity arguments. The Rushbrooke inequality states that \alpha + 2\beta + \gamma \geq 2, which becomes an equality under the scaling assumption, connecting the specific heat, order parameter, and behaviors. The Fisher relation \gamma = \nu (2 - \eta) links the exponent \gamma to the correlation length exponent \nu and the anomalous dimension \eta, reflecting the of fluctuations. Widom scaling yields \gamma = \beta (\delta - 1), where \delta is the critical isotherm exponent, and the gap exponent satisfies \Delta = \beta \delta = \beta + \gamma, unifying the response to and perturbations. These equalities demonstrate how the exponents are not independent but interrelated via the scaling form of the . The Josephson hyperscaling relation $2 - \alpha = d \nu incorporates the spatial dimension d, relating the free energy singularity to the divergence of the correlation length and emphasizing the role of dimensionality in critical behavior. These relations derive from the homogeneity of the under rescaling, which is justified by the (RG) invariance: near criticality, the system's properties remain unchanged under transformations that coarse-grain microscopic details, leading to fixed points that dictate universal scaling laws. In the RG framework, the relevant scaling operators correspond to the exponents, ensuring that the relations hold regardless of the specific microscopic , as long as the system belongs to the same defined by symmetry and range of interactions. This universality underscores the power of scaling relations: they apply across diverse models sharing the same fixed point, such as the in different dimensions or fluid-gas transitions, without dependence on lattice structure or short-range details. However, hyperscaling fails above the upper critical dimension d_{uc} (e.g., d_{uc} = 4 for short-range Ising-like systems), where fluctuations become negligible compared to mean-field contributions, and relations involving d no longer hold, with exponents reverting to mean-field values.

Advanced Theoretical Concepts

Scaling Functions

In critical phenomena, scaling functions provide a universal description of how thermodynamic quantities vary across the critical region, interpolating between power-law behaviors at criticality and analytic forms away from it. These functions arise from the scaling hypothesis, which posits that the singular part of the free energy density scales as f_s(t, h) = |t|^{2 - \alpha} \mathcal{F}(h / |t|^{\beta + \gamma}), where t is the reduced temperature, h is the external field, \alpha is the specific heat exponent, and \mathcal{F} is a universal scaling function. This form, introduced by Widom, ensures that derivatives of the free energy yield consistent power laws for response functions near the critical point t = 0, h = 0. For the order parameter, such as magnetization m, the scaling form is m(t, h) = |t|^\beta \mathcal{M}\left( \frac{h}{|t|^{\beta \delta}} \right), where \beta and \delta are critical exponents characterizing the spontaneous order below criticality and the critical isotherm, respectively, and \mathcal{M} is the universal scaling function. Along the zero-field axis (h = 0), \mathcal{M}(0) is a nonzero constant for t < 0, yielding the power law m \sim |t|^\beta, while for large arguments, \mathcal{M}(x) \sim x^{1/\delta} recovers the critical isotherm m \sim h^{1/\delta} at t = 0. Similarly, the susceptibility \chi(t, h = 0) \sim |t|^{-\gamma}, and more generally \chi(t, h) = |t|^{-\gamma} \mathcal{X}\left( \frac{h}{|t|^{\beta + \gamma}} \right), where \mathcal{X} is the universal scaling function interpolating the divergence \chi \sim |t|^{-\gamma} at criticality. The two-point correlation function G(r, t) also follows a scaling form G(r, t) = |t|^{2\beta} g(r / \xi), where \xi \sim |t|^{-\nu} is the correlation length and \nu is its exponent. The function g(u) exhibits distinct asymptotic behaviors: for u \ll 1 (r ≪ ξ), g(u) \sim u^{-(d-2+\eta)}, capturing the power-law decay at criticality; for u \gg 1 (r ≫ ξ), g(u) \sim u^{d-2+\eta} e^{-c u} (with c a non-universal constant), unifying the Ornstein-Zernike approximation away from criticality with critical power laws. Scaling functions describe crossover behaviors by smoothly transitioning from analytic dependence on t and h far from criticality—where singularities are absent—to power-law singularities at the critical point, often involving essential singularities in the scaling variable. For instance, in the specific heat C(t) \sim |t|^{-\alpha}, the scaling function allows for discontinuities or cusps depending on the sign of t, with universal amplitude ratios like A_+/A_- (the ratio of amplitudes above and below T_c) quantifying asymmetries; in three-dimensional Ising systems, Monte Carlo simulations yield A_+/A_- \approx 1.606 \pm 0.003, consistent across universality classes. These ratios are measured experimentally in fluids and magnets to test universality. Parametric representations of scaling functions, such as expressing t and h in terms of auxiliary parameters, resolve apparent violations of pure power laws near criticality by accounting for nonlinear corrections and finite-size effects. For example, plotting data in scaled variables collapses curves onto a single universal function, revealing deviations from naive exponents due to crossover regions. This approach has been pivotal in analyzing experimental data, confirming the scaling hypothesis without relying on microscopic details.

Renormalization Group Approach

The renormalization group (RG) approach provides a systematic framework for understanding critical phenomena by analyzing how physical systems behave under successive coarse-graining transformations. In this method, the Hamiltonian of a system near criticality is iteratively coarse-grained by integrating out short-wavelength fluctuations on scales smaller than a length, followed by rescaling spatial dimensions by a factor b > 1 to restore the original . This procedure generates a for the dimensionless couplings g_i parameterizing the effective theory, described by the transformation g_i' = R_i(\{g_j\}) b^{y_i}, where R_i encodes the nonlinear effects and y_i are the scaling dimensions (eigenvalues) of the linearized near fixed points. Fixed points g^* of the flow satisfy g_i^* = R_i(\{g_j^*\}), representing scale-invariant theories that govern long-distance critical behavior. Linearizing the flow around g^* yields eigenvalues y_i: relevant directions (y_i > 0) drive the system away from the fixed point under iterations, corresponding to perturbations that destabilize criticality; irrelevant directions (y_i < 0) flow toward the fixed point; and marginal directions (y_i = 0) require higher-order analysis. Critical exponents are directly determined by these eigenvalues; for instance, the correlation length exponent is \nu = 1/y_t, where y_t is the largest relevant eigenvalue associated with the thermal (temperature-like) perturbation, while the anomalous dimension \eta arises from the scaling dimension \Delta_\phi of the order parameter field at the fixed point, given by \eta = 2 \Delta_\phi - d + 2. For continuous-symmetry models like the O(n) vector models describing ferromagnets or fluid criticality, the Gaussian fixed point (free theory) governs behavior above the upper critical dimension d = 4, recovering mean-field exponents, but below d = 4, interactions drive the flow to the nontrivial . This fixed point was identified through perturbative analysis, capturing the effects of \phi^4 interactions in the . To compute exponents quantitatively, the \varepsilon-expansion treats the dimension as d = 4 - \varepsilon with \varepsilon small, expanding the fixed-point couplings and exponents as power series in \varepsilon; for example, the anomalous dimension is \eta = \frac{(n+2) \varepsilon^2}{2 (n+8)^2} + O(\varepsilon^3), providing accurate results for small \varepsilon that can be resummed for physical dimensions like d = 3. Universality classes emerge because systems with the same symmetries and relevant operators flow to the same fixed point under RG, yielding identical critical exponents regardless of microscopic details; for instance, the three-dimensional belongs to the O(n = 1) universality class, while the (superfluid transition) corresponds to O(n = 2). Beyond perturbation theory, nonperturbative computational methods include the , which solves exact flow equations for the effective average action via , enabling numerical determination of fixed points and exponents in arbitrary dimensions, and the , which uses consistency conditions of to bound and compute exponents without assuming an underlying field theory. The mean-field approximation corresponds to the valid above d = 4.

Specific Models

Ising-like Systems

The Ising model describes ferromagnetic systems with short-range interactions through the Hamiltonian H = -J \sum_{\langle i,j \rangle} s_i s_j - h \sum_i s_i, where s_i = \pm 1 are Ising spins on a lattice, J > 0 is the ferromagnetic coupling between nearest neighbors \langle i,j \rangle, and h is an external . This model belongs to the , where critical exponents characterize the behavior near the from disordered to ordered ferromagnetic states. In one , the admits an exact solution showing no at finite , as thermal fluctuations destroy long-range order. The remains zero for h = 0 and T > 0, with correlation length diverging only as T \to 0. The two-dimensional square-lattice , solved exactly by Onsager, exhibits a second-order at finite with critical exponents \alpha = 0 (logarithmic specific heat divergence), \beta = 1/8, \gamma = 7/4, \nu = 1, \eta = 1/4, and \delta = 15. These values arise from the exact partition function and reflect the model's conformal invariance at criticality. In three dimensions, no exact solution exists, but high-precision numerical estimates from series expansions and simulations yield critical exponents \beta \approx 0.326, \gamma \approx 1.237, \nu \approx 0.630, and \eta \approx 0.036, deviating from mean-field predictions (\beta = 1/2, \gamma = 1, \nu = 1/2, \eta = 0) due to fluctuations beyond the upper . These results align with predictions for the . The shares its with the q=2 , which reduces to the for two states and exhibits identical critical exponents in the same dimensions. Extensions to the quantum , with H = -J \sum_{\langle i,j \rangle} \sigma_i^z \sigma_j^z - \Gamma \sum_i \sigma_i^x (where \Gamma is the transverse field strength), map to a classical in one higher dimension via quantum-classical correspondence, preserving static critical exponents while introducing . High-precision computations of three-dimensional Ising exponents into the rely on algorithms, such as the Swendsen-Wang and Wolff methods, which mitigate critical slowing down in simulations by flipping extended spin s, enabling accurate finite-size scaling analyses on large s.

In , a is randomly occupied by sites or bonds with probability p, and a occurs at a critical occupation probability p_c, above which an infinite connected emerges. The order parameter, defined as the probability that a given site belongs to this infinite , scales as P_\infty \sim (p - p_c)^\beta for p > p_c, while below p_c, it vanishes. The mean size, analogous to the , diverges as \chi \sim |p - p_c|^{-\gamma}, and the diverges as \xi \sim |p - p_c|^{-\nu}. The two-point connectivity function at criticality decays as G(r) \sim 1/r^{d-2+[\eta](/page/Eta)}, where d is the spatial and \eta is the anomalous exponent. In two dimensions, exact values for these exponents have been derived using conformal invariance and stochastic Loewner evolution: \beta = 5/36, \gamma = 43/18, \nu = 4/3, and \eta = 5/24. In three dimensions, numerical simulations and series expansions yield approximate values: \beta \approx 0.41, \gamma \approx 1.80, \nu \approx 0.88, and \eta \approx 0.04. These exponents satisfy scaling relations, such as \gamma = (2 - \eta) \nu, and hyperscaling, expressed as $2 - \alpha = d \nu, holds for dimensions below the upper critical dimension d = 6, where mean-field behavior takes over. Percolation corresponds to the q \to 1 limit of the q-state Potts model, where the partition function maps to the generating function for cluster statistics via the Fortuin-Kasteleyn representation. In two dimensions, duality relations between self-dual lattices, such as the square lattice where p_c = 1/2, further constrain the critical behavior and confirm the exact exponents. Unlike Ising models, which exhibit symmetry breaking with a true order parameter, percolation lacks an intrinsic order parameter in the thermodynamic sense but describes geometric connectivity; the incipient infinite cluster at criticality is fractal with dimension D = d - \beta / \nu, quantifying its space-filling properties. For example, in three dimensions, D \approx 2.53. Recent advances include six-loop renormalization group expansions up to 2025, which refine estimates of critical exponents in dimensions between 3 and 6 by improving the precision of \epsilon-expansions around the upper , yielding values consistent with numerical simulations.

Extensions and Variations

Anisotropy

in arises from directional dependencies in the system's structure or interactions, leading to deviations from isotropic behavior near phase transitions. Common types include lattice , such as uniaxial distortions in crystal lattices that make spatial dimensions inequivalent; interaction , where couplings differ between longitudinal and transverse directions, as in models with varying exchange strengths along principal axes; and field-induced , where an external , like a magnetic one, breaks and imposes directional preferences. The impact of anisotropy on universality classes depends on its strength relative to the upper critical dimension d_{uc}. For weak , it acts as an irrelevant perturbation in the (RG) sense below d_{uc}, causing the system to flow to the isotropic fixed point and retain the of the corresponding isotropic model. In contrast, strong anisotropy can drive the system to a different ; for instance, in highly layered systems with weak interplane couplings, the critical behavior crosses over to that of the two-dimensional . In anisotropic models, critical exponents exhibit modifications, particularly the anomalous dimension \eta, which governs the decay of correlations at criticality. For example, in dipolar ferromagnets, where long-range dipole-dipole interactions introduce , \eta receives corrections beyond , altering the spatial decay of spin s from the short-range isotropic case. This often manifests as a crossover from isotropic to anisotropic forms, where correlation lengths diverge differently in parallel and perpendicular directions to the anisotropy axis. The treatment of anisotropic systems incorporates anisotropic scaling, characterized by distinct correlation length exponents \nu_\parallel and \nu_\perp along and perpendicular to the preferred , respectively. However, in systems with underlying rotational invariance, such as those with continuous symmetries, \nu_\parallel = \nu_\perp holds due to the stability of the isotropic scaling under rotations. Specific examples illustrate these effects. In the uniaxial dipolar Ising model, mean-field theory predicts \eta = 2 for longitudinal correlations due to the long-range nature of dipolar interactions, with RG corrections reducing this value and restoring partial universality. Experimentally, anisotropy is relevant in liquid crystals, such as smectic phases confined in random environments, where it leads to effective exponents differing from isotropic predictions, reflecting quenched disorder and directional ordering.

Multicritical Points

Multicritical points represent special locations in the parameter space of thermodynamic systems where two or more phase transitions coincide, requiring tuning of multiple control parameters such as and to reach them. These points differ from ordinary unicritical points by involving higher-order terms in the Landau expansion, leading to distinct behaviors. For instance, a bicritical point arises at the of ferromagnetic-paramagnetic and antiferromagnetic-paramagnetic lines, as seen in systems with competing interactions, while a tricritical point terminates a line of first-order transitions, separating it from a line of continuous second-order transitions. The critical exponents at multicritical points deviate from those at unicritical points due to the altered structure of the free energy. In mean-field theory, the tricritical point is described by a Landau expansion including a sixth-order term, yielding exponents β = 1/4 for the order parameter, γ = 1 for the susceptibility, δ = 5 for the critical isotherm, and ν = 1/2 for the correlation length. Beyond mean field, renormalization group (RG) methods reveal that for the three-dimensional tricritical point in the Heisenberg universality class (n=3 vector model), fluctuations modify these values, with the upper critical dimension being d_c = 3, leading to mean-field-like exponents augmented by logarithmic corrections. At bicritical points, the exponents are influenced by the merging of universality classes, often requiring ε-expansion techniques to compute corrections. Crossover scaling phenomena are prominent at multicritical points, particularly bicritical ones, where the system transitions between different universality classes, such as from isotropic Heisenberg to anisotropic Ising behavior, driven by irrelevant operators in the RG flow. This crossover is characterized by a scaling variable involving the anisotropy parameter and correlation length, resulting in smooth interpolations between exponent values of the respective classes. Examples of multicritical points include metamagnets like FeBr₂, where the H-T features a tricritical point separating metamagnetic transitions from second-order antiferromagnetic ordering, tunable by applied . In , heavy-fermion compounds such as CeCu_{6-x}Au_x exhibit quantum multicritical points at low temperatures, where antiferromagnetic, paramagnetic, and superconducting phases converge under doping and tuning. However, fluctuations near these points can destabilize the mean-field prediction of continuous transitions, inducing weakly behavior through coupling between order-parameter modes and other .

Experimental and Dynamic Aspects

Experimental Values

Experimental determination of critical exponents involves specialized techniques that probe the singular behavior of physical quantities near the critical point in real materials. Neutron scattering experiments measure the correlation length ξ and anomalous dimension η by analyzing the Ornstein-Zernike form of the S(q) ~ 1/(q^2 + ξ^{-2})^{1 - η/2}. Magnetization measurements in applied fields yield the order parameter exponent β from the M ~ |T - T_c|^β and the exponent γ from χ ~ |T - T_c|^{-γ}. Calorimetric methods detect the specific heat exponent α through the divergence C ~ |T - T_c|^{-α}. High-field techniques determine the critical isotherm exponent δ from the relation M ~ H^{1/δ} at T = T_c. In three-dimensional Ising universality class systems, experimental values from fluids closely match renormalization group predictions, confirming universality. For the liquid-gas transition in xenon, high-precision measurements yield β = 0.327 and γ = 1.241, consistent with 3D Ising expectations. Light-scattering experiments on aqueous electrolyte solutions and binary liquid mixtures provide γ = 1.238 ± 0.012, ν = 0.629 ± 0.003, and η = 0.032 ± 0.013, aligning with theoretical RG values of β ≈ 0.326, γ ≈ 1.237, ν ≈ 0.630, and η ≈ 0.036. Uniaxial magnets, such as CrBr₃, exhibit similar exponents: β = 0.364 ± 0.005, γ = 1.21, and δ = 4.32 ± 0.10, while gadolinium shows β = 0.370 ± 0.010 and γ = 1.25, further supporting universality across fluids and magnets. For two-dimensional Ising systems, exact theoretical values β = 1/8, γ = 7/4, ν = 1, and η = 1/4 are confirmed experimentally in physisorbed monolayers. adsorbed on krypton-plated realizes a 2D , with critical behavior matching these exponents from and adsorption isotherm measurements. In monolayer NbSe₂, strong spin-orbit coupling leads to Ising superconductivity, enhancing the transition temperature, though the BKT transition follows universality. Deviations from ideal critical behavior arise due to finite-size effects in nanoscale samples, impurities disrupting long-range correlations, and corrections assessed via the Ginzburg criterion, which quantifies the width of the critical region where mean-field theory fails. High-precision data from the 2020s, including muon spin rotation (μSR) studies in manganites and synchrotron X-ray scattering for fluids, refine these exponents, revealing subtle corrections to universality. Recent 2025 experiments on magnetic materials confirm 3D Ising exponents with precision better than 0.1%, supporting universality.

Static versus Dynamic Properties

In critical phenomena, static exponents such as α (specific heat), β (order parameter), γ (), ν (correlation length), and η (anomalous dimension) characterize properties at the critical point, reflecting divergences in spatial correlations and thermodynamic responses. Dynamic exponents, by contrast, govern nonequilibrium relaxation and transport processes, with the primary one being z, which relates the characteristic time scale τ to the correlation length ξ via τ ~ ξ^z as the critical point is approached. This divergence of relaxation times, known as critical slowing down, arises because fluctuations become increasingly cooperative near criticality, slowing the system's return to after perturbations. The Hohenberg-Halperin classification organizes dynamic universality classes based on laws and symmetries. Model A describes relaxational for a non-conserved order parameter, as in the for pure spin systems without coupling to conserved quantities; renormalization group analysis yields z = 2 + c η, where c = 6 \ln(4/3) - 1 \approx 0.726 from the two-loop ε-expansion. Model B applies to systems with a conserved order parameter, such as in binary alloys, where transport is diffusive and z = 4 - η to leading order. These models highlight how laws elevate z, making slower in conserved cases. Dynamic scaling extends static scaling by incorporating frequency dependence, positing that response functions collapse onto universal forms when arguments are scaled appropriately. For instance, the dynamic susceptibility χ(ω) scales as χ(ω) \sim |t|^{-\gamma} D(\omega / |t|^{\nu z}), where t is the reduced , ω is the , and D is a scaling function that captures the crossover from adiabatic (static-like) to hydrodynamic (dynamic) regimes. This form ensures that dynamic inherit the same correlation length divergence as static ones but introduce an additional . While static exponents belong to universality classes determined by and dimensionality, dynamic classes are distinct and depend on the underlying microscopic , though they often share the same upper critical dimension d=4 as their static counterparts. Above d=4, mean-field values apply, with z=2 for Model A (non-conserved) and z=4 for Model B (conserved), rendering z universal in the Gaussian fixed point but subject to perturbative corrections below d=4; however, in some dynamic models involving long-range interactions or disorder, z can exhibit weak non-universality even above d=4 due to marginal operators. Experimentally, dynamic exponents in ferromagnets of the 3D Ising universality class have been probed via techniques sensitive to spin fluctuations, such as inelastic light scattering and (NMR). These methods reveal z \approx 2.0-2.5, consistent with Model A or related Model J (for anisotropic Heisenberg systems with dipolar effects), as observed in materials like and where hyperfine interactions and spin relaxation rates show critical slowing down near T_c.

Emerging Topics

Self-Organized Criticality

Self-organized criticality (SOC) refers to a dynamical process in which dissipative systems with many interacting elements naturally evolve toward a critical state characterized by scale-invariant behavior, without the need for precise external tuning of parameters. Introduced by Per Bak, Chao Tang, and Kurt Wiesenfeld in 1987, the paradigmatic example is the , where grains are slowly added to a , triggering local topplings that propagate as until energy dissipates at the boundaries. This slow drive combined with local dissipation leads to a with power-law distributed avalanche sizes, reflecting the system's self-organization to the edge of stability. In models, critical exponents describe the scaling of statistics. The of sizes S follows P(S) \sim S^{-\tau}, while the distribution of durations T scales as P(T) \sim T^{-\alpha}; in , applicable to high dimensions or sparse interactions, \tau = 3/2 and \alpha = 2. Spatial correlations of avalanches are characterized by exponents \nu_\perp for the perpendicular extent and \nu_\parallel for the parallel (temporal) extent, which relate the characteristic sizes to the system scale. These exponents arise from the absorbing state transitions inherent in the models, where the critical point separates active and inactive phases. Different SOC models fall into distinct universality classes, determining shared exponent values. The deterministic Bak-Tang-Wiesenfeld (BTW) sandpile, with its abelian properties and conservation of "sand," belongs to one class, while the stochastic Manna model, involving random toppling among neighbors, represents another, often linked to the conserved directed (C-DP) universality. Many absorbing-state SOC variants map to the directed (DP) class for non-conserved dynamics, with 2D exponents such as the order parameter \beta \approx 0.28 and correlation length \nu \approx 1.3, governing the density of active sites near criticality. Avalanche geometries in these models resemble clusters, as briefly noted in related theories. Unlike equilibrium critical phenomena, SOC occurs in open, non-equilibrium systems driven far from , where energy input and dissipation prevent thermalization. Nonetheless, the forms and hyperscaling relations in SOC mirror those in equilibrium universality classes, suggesting a common underlying structure for critical fluctuations. This non-equilibrium allows systems to robustly access criticality through internal , rather than relying on fine-tuned control parameters. SOC has been applied to natural systems exhibiting power-law statistics, such as earthquake magnitudes following the Gutenberg-Richter law and solar flare energies, where avalanching processes purportedly drive the dynamics. However, criticisms highlight challenges in verifying true criticality: finite-size effects, slow approach to steady states, and alternative mechanisms like weak ergodicity breaking can produce apparent power laws without the system precisely reaching the infinite-size critical point. These debates underscore the need for rigorous tests, such as finite-size scaling, to distinguish genuine SOC from superficial scale invariance.

Recent Advances

In the study of long-range interactions, a generalized antiferromagnetic cluster XY model in a transverse magnetic field with algebraically decaying interactions exhibits continuously varying critical exponents, marking a departure from short-range universality classes. Specifically, the correlation length exponent ν and dynamic exponent z have been derived exactly using a free fermion framework, varying continuously with the decay parameter while satisfying νz = 1; these are verified via correlation functions and fidelity susceptibility. This breakdown of short-range universality arises because the interaction decay parameter tunes the effective dimensionality, leading to non-universal scaling along critical lines. Dynamic critical exponents have been shown to emerge as properties dependent on interaction strength and fermion degrees of freedom in interacting topological quantum critical points within fermion systems. In these models, the dynamic exponent z varies continuously with interaction parameters, challenging fixed universality assumptions and highlighting emergent scaling from microscopic details. High-loop renormalization group calculations have advanced precision for specific universality classes, with six-loop analyses for Lee-Yang edge singularities and percolation theory yielding improved estimates for the anomalous dimension η and correlation length exponent ν. These computations, leveraging scalar cubic field theories, refine critical exponent values in three dimensions by incorporating higher-order corrections, enhancing agreement with numerical simulations. Explorations of hyperscaling violations in phase transitions above and below the upper have proposed reinstatement through modified effective dimensions, addressing discrepancies in finite-size and . Recent analyses, including studies of thin films, indicate that hyperscaling holds below the upper when accounting for boundary effects and effective dimensionality shifts. New systems have revealed novel critical behaviors with predicted exponents. In strain-stiffening networks, a model predicts all critical exponents, including those for connectivity and strain , demonstrating mean-field universality in athermal limits. For spin glasses in at zero temperature below the upper , perturbative loop expansions identify a new fixed point with computed exponents for the de Almeida-Thouless line, confirming finite-dimensional . Wave equations with double critical exponents in nonlinear damping and source terms exhibit attractor dynamics where properties emerge from the interplay of critical powers, establishing in solution semigroups. In quantum and continuous dynamical systems, weak noise field theories in 1+1 dimensions undergo continuous dynamical phase transitions with systematically analyzed critical exponents, revealing scaling relations tied to noise strength and system dimensionality. These theories, applicable to stochastic reaction-diffusion processes, predict exponent universality across low-dimensional quantum mappings.

References

  1. [1]
    [PDF] 5. Phase Transitions - DAMTP
    How to understand it? Critical Exponents. We will focus attention on physics close to the critical point. It is not immediately. – 143 – ...
  2. [2]
    [PDF] Critical Exponents and the Renormalization Group - UBC Physics
    This means that, at the critical point of a second-order phase transition, the system has scale invariance; fluctuations occur on all length scales, even if ...
  3. [3]
    Critical exponents and scaling invariance in the absence of ... - Nature
    Dec 5, 2016 · The paramagnetic-to-ferromagnetic phase transition is classified as a critical phenomenon due to the power-law behaviour shown by ...
  4. [4]
  5. [5]
    [PDF] arXiv:2002.10664v2 [cond-mat.stat-mech] 5 Mar 2020
    Mar 5, 2020 · The scaling hypothesis (SH), introduced by Widom in 1965 [1], marked the turning point in the modern descrip- tion of critical phenomena.
  6. [6]
    [PDF] arXiv:0906.0653v2 [physics.hist-ph] 14 Sep 2009
    Sep 14, 2009 · Lev Landau followed van der Waals, Pierre Curie, and Ehrenfest in noticing a deep connection among different phase transition problems[8].
  7. [7]
    [PDF] Phase Transitions and Collective Phenomena - TCM
    ——————————————–. Those critical exponents most commonly encountered are defined below. 1.3.2 Order Parameter. By definition, there is more than one equilibrium ...
  8. [8]
    [PDF] Chapter 4 Phase Transitions
    Jun 4, 2022 · The first members of the critical exponent family are denoted by α, β, γ and δ. These describe the singularity of the heat capacity, order ...
  9. [9]
  10. [10]
  11. [11]
    [PDF] 1 Unit 4-8: Fluctuations and the Ginzburg Criterion We have ...
    Aug 4, 2020 · We have discussed the mean-field solutions to the Ising model, in which the critical exponents do not depend on the system dimensionality.
  12. [12]
    [PDF] Mean Field Theory - Physics Courses
    ). How well does mean field theory do in describing the phase transition of the Ising model? In table 7.2 we compare our mean field results for the exponents ...
  13. [13]
  14. [14]
    The theory of equilibrium critical phenomena - IOPscience
    Citation M E Fisher 1967 Rep. Prog. Phys. 30 615DOI 10.1088/0034-4885/30/2/306. Download Article PDF. This article is corrected by 1968 Rep. Prog. Phys. 31 ...
  15. [15]
    Renormalization Group and Critical Phenomena. I. Renormalization ...
    Nov 1, 1971 · Renormalization Group and Critical Phenomena. I. Renormalization Group and the Kadanoff Scaling Picture. Kenneth G. Wilson.
  16. [16]
    Renormalization Group and Critical Phenomena. II. Phase-Space ...
    Nov 1, 1971 · Renormalization Group and Critical Phenomena. II. Phase-Space Cell Analysis of Critical Behavior. Kenneth G. Wilson.
  17. [17]
    [PDF] Kenneth G. Wilson - Nobel Lecture
    To illustrate the renormalization group ideas the case of' critical phenomena will be discussed in more detail. First the mean field theory of Landau will be.
  18. [18]
    [PDF] THE RENORMALIZATION GROUP AND THE ~EXPANSION
    The modern formulation of the renormalization group is explained for both critical phenomena in classical statistical mechanics and quantum field theory.
  19. [19]
    Critical Exponents in 3.99 Dimensions | Phys. Rev. Lett.
    Jan 24, 1972 · Critical exponents are calculated for dimension d = 4 − ε with ε small, using renormalization-group techniques.Missing: paper | Show results with:paper
  20. [20]
    [1112.1375] Renormalization Group: Applications in Statistical Physics
    Dec 6, 2011 · Abstract:These notes provide a concise introduction to important applications of the renormalization group (RG) in statistical physics.
  21. [21]
    [2303.16838] Reanalysis of critical exponents for the O(N) model via ...
    Mar 29, 2023 · We compute the critical exponents of the O(N) model within the Functional Renormalization Group (FRG) approach. We use recent advances.
  22. [22]
    [1403.6003] Critical exponents of the 3d Ising and related models ...
    Mar 24, 2014 · Abstract:The constraints of conformal bootstrap are applied to investigate a set of conformal field theories in various dimensions.
  23. [23]
  24. [24]
  25. [25]
    Critical frontier of the Potts and percolation models on triangular ...
    It is well known that bond percolation is realized in the q = 1 limit of the Potts model under the mapping v = p / ( 1 − p ) , where p is the bond occupation ...
  26. [26]
    [PDF] Critical Behavior of Transport in Lattice and Continuum Percolation ...
    May 19, 1997 · model, where its Kasteleyn-Fortuin [15] representation as the q ! 1 limit of the q-state Potts model makes clear the connection to phase ...<|separator|>
  27. [27]
    [PDF] Renormalization Group and Critical Phenomena - LPTMC
    Sep 18, 2025 · Below the upper critical dimension, mean-field theory remains valid sufficiently far from the transition. One can estimate the temperature ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  28. [28]
    Critical behaviour of anisotropic cubic systems - IOPscience
    The critical behavior of an anisotropic classical Heisenberg ferromagnet with cubic point-group symmetry is studied in the limit where the spin-dimensionality ...Missing: liquid | Show results with:liquid<|control11|><|separator|>
  29. [29]
    Renormalization group for spatial anisotropy - ScienceDirect.com
    The renormalization group approach is used to obtain the generalized homogeneous function hypothesis and crossover exponent for critical systems with ...
  30. [30]
    Anomalous Universality in the Anisotropic Ashkin–Teller Model
    Dec 29, 2004 · The Ashkin–Teller (AT) model is a generalization of Ising 2–d to a four states spin model; it can be written in the form of two Ising layers ...
  31. [31]
    Critical exponents of ferromagnets with dipolar interactions: Second ...
    Sep 1, 1974 · The critical exponents are calculated to order 𝜀 2 , and are found to be numerically very close to their nondipolar analogs. In particular the ...Missing: eta | Show results with:eta
  32. [32]
    Anisotropic scaling for 3D topological models | Scientific Reports
    Nov 18, 2021 · We study anisotropic effects on three-dimensional (3D) topological models, computing their anisotropic correlation length critical exponent.
  33. [33]
    Smectic liquid crystals in an anisotropic random environment
    Mar 14, 2007 · The effective critical exponents for the correlation lengths and smectic susceptibility differ systematically from those of pure 8CB, indicating ...
  34. [34]
    [PDF] Critical behaviour near critical end points and tricritical points ... - arXiv
    May 14, 2023 · Critical end points and tricritical points are multicritical points that separate lines of continuous transitions from lines of first order ...
  35. [35]
    Critical Points and Multicritical Points - SpringerLink
    A review is presented of the thermodynamic phenomena associated with critical points and, especially, multicritical points, highlighting a few simple but ...
  36. [36]
    [PDF] Chapter 4 - The Ginzburg-Landau Theory - staff.uni-mainz.de
    Summary: Mean-field exponents in the tricritical regime: βt “ 1{4, γt ... mean-field exponents ν,β,γ. Inserting the values for the critical exponents.
  37. [37]
    Tricritical points in systems with random fields | Phys. Rev. B
    Oct 1, 1978 · Mean-field theory and renormalization-group arguments are used to show that the phase transition in a system with a random ordering field ...
  38. [38]
    Crossover Scaling: A Renormalization Group Approach - jstor
    finite size crossover, uniaxial dipolar ferromagnets and crossover at a bicritical point. It should be clear that the formalism herein is very general. More ...
  39. [39]
    Crossover scaling: A Renormalization group approach - INSPIRE
    Crossover at a Bicritical Point: Asymptotic Behavior of a Field Theory with Quadratic Symmetry Breaking · Daniel J. Amit(. Hebrew U. ) ,. Yadin Y. Goldschmidt ...
  40. [40]
    [PDF] Metamagnetic domains and dynamic fluctuations in FeBr2
    Apr 15, 1997 · 1 Obviously the topology of its multicritical point ~MCP: Tm54.64 K, Hm52.45 MA/m! is more com- plex than that of the classical tricritical ...
  41. [41]
    A quantum multi-critical point in CeCu 6− x Au x - ScienceDirect.com
    Pure CeCu6 is a huge heavy fermion (γ=1670 mJ mol−1 K−2), with neither ... examples such as UNi2Sn [67–69], UPd2In [70], CeInAu2 [71] or CeCu6 [72–75] ...
  42. [42]
    Quantum Lifshitz points and fluctuation-induced first-order phase ...
    Aug 26, 2020 · This signals a possible tendency to drive the transition weakly first-order by the coupling between the order-parameter fluctuations and ...
  43. [43]
    Quantum Lifshitz points and fluctuation-induced first-order phase ...
    Sep 24, 2020 · This paper discusses the nature of the superfluid quantum phase transition in imbalanced Fermi mixtures, and shows that a quantum Lifshitz ...
  44. [44]
    Critical phenomena in microgravity: Past, present, and future
    Jan 2, 2007 · Here α , β , γ , ν , and Δ are universal critical exponents that can be estimated (currently to about three or four decimal places) from theory.
  45. [45]
    Experimental Critical-Exponent Values for Fluids - Journal of Statistical Physics
    ### Summary of Experimental Critical-Exponent Values for Fluids
  46. [46]
    [PDF] Three-dimensional (3D) Ising universality in magnets and critical ...
    Experimental ... mixtures at liquid–liquid critical points belong to the same universality class as the Ising ... state and critical exponents in magnets and fluids ...
  47. [47]
    Realization of a two-dimensional Ising system: Deuterium ...
    Realization of a two-dimensional Ising system: Deuterium physisorbed on krypton-preplated graphite ... We were able to determine the critical exponent of a 2D ...
  48. [48]
    Theory and satellite experiment for critical exponent ?? of
    Aug 9, 2025 · Theory and satellite experiment for critical exponent ?? of ??-transition in superfluid helium. December 2000; Physics Letters A 277(4):205-211.Missing: 0.3265 | Show results with:0.3265
  49. [49]
    Universality of critical behaviors in the three-dimensional (3D) Ising ...
    Oct 10, 2025 · Abstract:This article gives a brief overview on recent advances in experiments of critical exponents in three groups of magnetic materials.
  50. [50]
    Theory of dynamic critical phenomena | Rev. Mod. Phys.
    Jul 1, 1977 · An introductory review of the central ideas in the modern theory of dynamic critical phenomena is followed by a more detailed account of recent developments in ...
  51. [51]
    [PDF] The dynamic critical exponent z of the three-dimensional Ising ...
    Feb 27, 2020 · Currently the most accurate estimates of static critical exponents for the universality class of the three-dimensional Ising model are ν = ...
  52. [52]
    [PDF] Critical Dynamics of Magnets - arXiv
    DIPOLAR FERROMAGNETS. In this chapter we review the static and dynamic critical behavior of dipolar ferromagnets,. i.e., spin systems with both short–range ...Missing: eta | Show results with:eta
  53. [53]
    Self-organized criticality: An explanation of the 1/f noise
    Jul 27, 1987 · We show that dynamical systems with spatial degrees of freedom naturally evolve into a self-organized critical point.Missing: sandpile model
  54. [54]
    (PDF) Self-Organized Criticality - ResearchGate
    We show that certain extended dissipative dynamical systems naturally evolve into a critical state, with no characteristic time or length scales.
  55. [55]
    Comment on ``Universality in sandpiles'' | Phys. Rev. E
    Aug 13, 2004 · The analysis described above agrees with the numerical results that suggest that the BTW and the Manna model belong to different universality ...
  56. [56]
    [cond-mat/9810408] Self-organized criticality and directed percolation
    Oct 30, 1998 · The model is found to have some similarities with directed percolation, but the existence of different boundary conditions and conservation law ...Missing: exponents τ α ν Manna
  57. [57]
    25 Years of Self-organized Criticality: Concepts and Controversies
    May 28, 2015 · SOC may be at work in some natural phenomena, such as earthquakes, solar flares and precipitation, but SOC is almost certainly not ubiquitous.
  58. [58]
    Self-organised criticality—what it is and what it isn't - ScienceDirect
    SOC has been used to model phenomena as diverse as the dynamics of granular materials, evolution, earthquakes, forest fires, landscape formation, solar flares, ...Missing: criticisms | Show results with:criticisms
  59. [59]
    Continuously varying critical exponents in an exactly solvable long ...
    Feb 6, 2025 · We investigate a generalized antiferromagnetic cluster XY model in a transverse magnetic field, where long-range interactions decay algebraically with distance.
  60. [60]
    Continuously varying critical exponents in an exactly solvable long ...
    We investigate a generalized antiferromagnetic cluster X Y model in a transverse magnetic field, where long-range interactions decay algebraically with ...
  61. [61]
    [2503.01512] Dynamic critical exponents as an emergent property at ...
    Mar 3, 2025 · Our studies suggest that dynamic critical exponents, as well as the degrees of freedom in fermion fields, can crucially depend on interactions ...
  62. [62]
    Six loop critical exponent analysis for Lee-Yang and percolation theory
    Oct 7, 2025 · [Submitted on 7 Oct 2025]. Title:Six loop critical exponent analysis for Lee-Yang and percolation theory. Authors:J.A. Gracey. View a PDF of ...
  63. [63]
    Violations of Hyperscaling in Phase Transitions and Critical ... - MDPI
    We are interested in robustly supported explorations of how hyperscaling can or cannot be re-instated. The intent of this Special Issue is to capture “state of ...
  64. [64]
    The strain-stiffening critical exponents in polymer networks and their ...
    Rapid Communication| September 16 2025. The strain-stiffening critical exponents in polymer networks and their universality Open Access. Zibin Zhang.
  65. [65]
    Critical exponents of the spin glass transition in a field at zero ... - arXiv
    Feb 28, 2025 · We analyze the spin glass transition in a field in finite dimension D below the upper critical dimension directly at zero temperature.
  66. [66]
    Dynamics of the Wave Equation With Double Critical Exponents - Zhou
    Dynamics of the Wave Equation With Double Critical Exponents. Feng ... First published: 08 July 2025. https://doi.org/10.1002/mma.11209.