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.
Read more about this topic: Critical Phenomena
Famous quotes containing the word critical:
“An art whose medium is language will always show a high degree of critical creativeness, for speech is itself a critique of life: it names, it characterizes, it passes judgment, in that it creates.”
—Thomas Mann (1875–1955)