Thermodynamics of a higher-order phase transition: scaling exponents and scaling laws
Abstract
The well-known scaling laws relating critical exponents in a second-order phase transition have been generalized to the case of an arbitrarily higher-order phase transition. In a higher-order transition, such as suggested for the superconducting transition in Ba0.6K0.4BiO3 and in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8, there are singularities in higher-order derivatives of the free energy. A relation between exponents of different observables has been found, regardless of whether the exponents are classical (mean-field theory; no fluctuations; integer order of a transition) or not (fluctuation effects included). We also comment on the phase transition in a thin film.
- Publication:
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Philosophical Magazine, Part B
- Pub Date:
- July 2002
- DOI:
- 10.1080/13642810208223158
- arXiv:
- arXiv:cond-mat/0205002
- Bibcode:
- 2002PMagB..82.1201K
- Keywords:
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- Condensed Matter - Superconductivity;
- Condensed Matter - Statistical Mechanics
- E-Print:
- 10 pages, no figures