Long-range critical wetting: observation of a critical end point

Alkanes deposited on aqueous substrates exhibit two different types of wetting behavior: alternatively to the usual first-order wetting transition, a sequential-wetting scenario of a long-range critical wetting transition preceded by a first-order thin-thick transition may be observed. Here, we present the first successful experimental attempt to locate the transition point between the standard first-order wetting and the long-range critical wetting: a critical end point, observed in a mixture of pentane and hexane which is deposited on an aqueous solution of glucose. Furthermore, we present the first direct measurement of the contact angle in the intermediate wetting state (frustrated-complete wetting) in the sequential-wetting scenario of hexane on brine and compare to theoretical predictions.     

Quantum critical end point for the Kondo volume collapse model

The Kondo volume collapse describes valence transitions in f-electron metals and is characterized by a line of first order transitions in the pressure-temperature phase plane terminated at critical end points. We analyze the quantum critical end point, when the lower end point is tuned to T=0, and determine the specific heat, thermal expansion, and compressibility. We find that the inclusion of quantum critical fluctuations leads to a novel bifurcation of the first order phase line. Finally, we show that critical strain fluctuations can cause both, superconductivity and non-Fermi liquid behavior near the critical point.     

Phase diagram and critical end point for strongly interacting quarks

We introduce a method based on chiral susceptibility, which enables one to draw a phase diagram in the chemical-potential-temperature plane for strongly interacting quarks whose interactions are described by any reasonable gap equation, even if the diagrammatic content of the quark-gluon vertex is unknown. We locate a critical end point at (μ(E),T(E))～(1.0,0.9)T(c), where T(c) is the critical temperature for chiral-symmetry restoration at μ=0, and find that a domain of phase coexistence opens at the critical end point whose area increases as a confinement length scale grows.     

Proton-number fluctuation as a signal of the QCD critical end point

We argue that the event-by-event fluctuation of the proton number is a meaningful and promising observable for the purpose of detecting the QCD critical end point in heavy-ion collision experiments. The long range fluctuation of the order parameter induces a characteristic correlation between protons which can be measured. The proton fluctuation also manifests itself as anomalous enhancement of charge fluctuations near the end point, which might be already seen in existing data.     

Reentrant hidden order at a metamagnetic quantum critical end point

Magnetization measurements of URu2Si2 in pulsed magnetic fields of 44 T reveal that the hidden order phase is destroyed before appearing in the form of a reentrant phase between approximately 36 and 39 T. Evidence for conventional itinerant electron metamagnetism at higher temperatures suggests that the reentrant phase is created in the vicinity of a quantum critical end point.     

Criticality of QCD in a holographic QCD model with critical end point

The thermodynamics of strongly interacting matter near the critical end point are investigated in a holographic QCD model, which can describe the QCD phase diagram in T-μ plane qualitatively. Critical exponents along different axes(α,β,γ,δ) are extracted numerically. It is given that α≈0,β≈0.54,γ≈1.04, and δ≈2.97,which is similar to the three-dimensional Ising mean-field approximation and previous holographic QCD model calculations. We also discuss the possibilities to go beyond the mean field approximation by including the full back-reaction of the chiral dynamics in the holographic framework.     

Phase transitions in quark matter and behaviour of physical observables in the vicinity of the critical end point

We study the chiral phase transition at finite T and μ _B within the framework of the SU(3) Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (NJL) model. The QCD critical end point (CEP) and the critical line at finite temperature and baryonic chemical potential are investigated: the study of physical quantities, such as the baryon number susceptibility near the CEP, will provide complementary information concerning the order of the phase transition. We also analyze the information provided by the study of the critical exponents around the CEP.     

The entanglement properties of holographic QCD model with a critical end point

We investigated different entanglement properties of a holographic QCD(hQCD)model with a critical end point at the finite baryon density.Firstly,we considered the holographic entanglement entropy(HEE)of this hQCD model in a spherical shaped region and a strip shaped region.It was determined that the HEE of this hQCD model in both regions can reflect QCD phase transition.Moreover,although the area formulas and minimal area equations of the two regions were quite different,the HEE exhibited a similar behavior on the QCD phase diagram.Therefore,we assert that the behavior of the HEE on the QCD phase diagram is independent of the shape of the subregions.However,the HEE is not an ideal parameter for the characterization of the entanglement between different subregions of a thermal system.As such,we investigated the mutual information(MI),conditional mutual information(CMI),and the entanglement of purification(Ep)in different strip shaped regions.We determined that the three entanglement quantities exhibited some universal behavior;their values did not change significantly in the hadronic matter phase but increased rapidly with the increase in T andμin the QGP phase.Near the phase boundary,these three entanglement quantities changed smoothly in the crossover region and continuously but not smoothly at CEP;they exhibited discontinuous behavior in the first phase transition region.These properties can be used to distinguish between the different phases of strongly coupled matter.     

Locating the QCD critical end point through peaked baryon number susceptibilities along the freeze-out line

We investigate the baryon number susceptibilities up to fourth order along different freeze-out lines in a holographic QCD model with a critical end point(CEP), and we propose that the peaked baryon number susceptibilities along the freeze-out line can be used as a clean signature to locate the CEP in the QCD phase diagram.On the temperature and baryon chemical potential plane, the cumulant ratio of the baryon number susceptibilities(up to fourth order) forms a ridge along the phase boundary, and develops a sword-shaped mountain standing upright around the CEP in a narrow and oblate region. The measurement of baryon number susceptibilities from heavy-ion collision experiments is along the freeze-out line. If the freeze-out line crosses the foot of the CEP mountain, then one can observe the peaked baryon number susceptibilities along the freeze-out line, and the kurtosis of the baryon number distributions has the highest magnitude. The data from the first phase of the beam energy scan program at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider indicates that there should be a peak of the kurtosis of the baryon number distribution at a collision energy of around 5 Ge V, which suggests that the freeze-out line crosses the foot of the CEP mountain and the summit of the CEP should be located nearby, around a collision energy of 3–7 GeV.     

On the anomalous sound propagation of nematics just above the clearing point

The sound attenuation coefficient due to the critical fluctuations of the order parameter is formulated in the isotropic phase of nematics by taking account of the mode-coupling effects between the order parameter and the hydrodynamic shear mode. The result is compared with the available experimental data.     

Transport anomalies and marginal-fermi-liquid effects at a quantum critical point

The conductivity and the tunneling density of states of disordered itinerant electrons in the vicinity of a ferromagnetic transition at low temperature are discussed. Critical fluctuations lead to nonanalytic frequency and temperature dependencies that are distinct from the usual long-time tail effects in a disordered Fermi liquid. The crossover between these two types of behavior is proposed as an experimental check of recent theories of the quantum ferromagnetic critical behavior. In addition, the quasiparticle properties at criticality are shown to be those of a marginal Fermi liquid.     

Thermal conductivity in the vicinity of the quantum critical end point in Sr3Ru2O7

Thermal conductivity of Sr3Ru2O7 was measured down to 40 mK and at magnetic fields through the quantum critical end point at Hc=7.85 T. A peak in the electrical resistivity as a function of the field was mimicked by the thermal resistivity. In the limit as T-->0 K, we find that the Wiedemann-Franz law is satisfied to within 5% at all fields, implying that there is no breakdown of the electron despite the destruction of the Fermi liquid state at quantum criticality. A significant change in disorder [from rho0(H=0 T)=2.1 to 0.5 microOmega cm] does not influence our conclusions. At finite temperatures, the temperature dependence of the Lorenz number is consistent with ferromagnetic fluctuations causing the non-Fermi liquid behavior as one would expect at a metamagnetic quantum critical end point.     

Field and pressure response of Yb compounds close to a quantum critical point

YbCu_5−x Al _x provides the possibility to tune ground state properties by a change of the valence due to the Cu/Al substitution, by pressure as well as by the application of a magnetic field. Near to the critical concentration x _cr≈1.5 non-Fermi-liquid properties (NFL) are obvious, obeying hyperscaling. If magnetic order sets in for x>1.5, the application of moderate magnetic fields quenches order and again NFL features become evident. Hyperscaling in this case indicates strongly interacting spin fluctuations.     

Some features of the perturbing effects of gravity near the gas liquid critical point

The effect of gravity on various thermodynamic properties near the gas-liquid critical point has been calculated. Using a simple equation satisfying scaling requirements, an analytic expression for density profile is obtained, using which the effect on different thermodynamic properties can be easily calculated.     

Dynamic symmetries at the critical point

A new class of dynamic symmetries is introduced. It is suggested that an element of this class, associated with zeros of Bessel functions, be used to describe spectra of nuclei at or around the critical point of the U(5)-SO(6) shape phase transition, and, in general, spectra of systems undergoing a (second order) phase transition between the algebraic structures U(n-1) and SO(n).