| Abstract: | We show that the Ising free-energy functional f(T, X) yields a second-order phase transition. The value of X, a generalized order parameter, which minimizes the functional is the real-order parameter, Ω = tanhΩ(TC/T)] where Tc = J/(2k) and J is the Ising coupling constant. The Ising theory is applicable to the second-order phase transitions in ferromagnets, ferroelectrics, and superconductors. The constant temperature slices of f(T, X) yields the Ising functional which is valid over the entire range of T and which is identical to the Landau functional for T/TC close to unity. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |
