Percolation Theory
Another phenomenon which shows phase transitions and critical exponents is percolation. The simplest example is perhaps percolation in a two dimensional square lattice. Sites are randomly occupied with probability p. For small values of p the occupied sites form only small clusters. At a certain threshold pc a giant cluster is formed and we have a second order phase transition. The behavior of P∞ near pc is, P∞~(p-pc)β, where β is a critical exponent.
Read more about this topic: Phase Changes, Characteristic Properties
Famous quotes containing the word theory:
“Don’t confuse hypothesis and theory. The former is a possible explanation; the latter, the correct one. The establishment of theory is the very purpose of science.”
—Martin H. Fischer (1879–1962)