Critical Phenomena - Critical Exponents and Universality

Critical Exponents and Universality

As we approach the critical point, these diverging observables behave as for some exponent where, typically, the value of the exponent α is the same above and below Tc. These exponents are called critical exponents and are robust observables. Even more, they take the same values for very different physical systems. This intriguing phenomenon, called universality, is explained, qualitatively and also quantitatively, by the renormalization group.

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