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Physical Review Letters

Generalization of Scaling Laws to Dynamical Properties of a System Near its Critical Point

Bertrand I. Halperin, Pierre C. Hohenberg

Published Sep 18, 1967• 259 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The Widom-Kadanoff scaling laws are generalized to dynamic phenomena, by making assumptions on the structure of time-dependent correlation functions near ${T}_{c}$. The theory is applied to isotropic Heisenberg antiferromagnet and predictions are made, which can be tested by inelastic neutron-scattering and nmr measurements. The ferromagnet is also briefly discussed.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.19.700

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Progress of Theoretical Physics•May 1, 1968•46 citations
The Widom-Kadanoff scaling laws are generalized to dynamic phenomena, by making assumptions on the structure of time-dependent correlation functions near Tc{T}_{c}Tc​. The theory is applied to isotropic Heisenberg antiferromagnet and predictions are made, which can be tested by inelastic neutron-scattering and nmr measurements. The ferromagnet is also briefly discussed.
The usual static scaling laws are generalized to nonequilibrium phenomena by making assumptions on the behavior of time-dependent correlation functions near the critical point of second-order phase transitions. At any temperature different from Tc{T}_{c}Tc​, the correlation functions are assumed to reflect the hydrodynamic behavior of the system, for sufficiently long wavelengths and low frequencies. As the critical temperature is approached, however, the range of spatial correlations in the system diverges, and the domain of applicability of hydrodynamics is reduced to a vanishingly small region of wavelengths and frequencies. The dynamic-scaling assumptions lead to predictions for the behavior of the hydrodynamic parameters near Tc{T}_{c}Tc​, as well as for the form of the correlation functions for macroscopic distances and times, outside the hydrodynamic range. In particular, singularities are predicted to occur in the temperature dependence of transport coefficients, and anomalies are expected in the frequency spectrum of certain operators, which are observable by inelastic scattering of neutrons or light. A distinction is made between the restricted dynamic-scaling hypothesis, which refers to the order parameter only, and extended dynamic scaling, which applies to other operators and involves stronger assumptions. Applications are discussed to antiferromagnets, ferromagnets, the gas-liquid critical point, and the $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ transition in superfluid helium. Specific experiments are suggested to test the scaling assumptions, and existing experimental evidence is briefly reviewed. Finally, a comparison is made with other theories of dynamical behavior near critical points.
The static scaling laws may be generalized to dynamic phenomena by making assumptions on the behavior of time-dependent correlation functions near the magnetic critical point. At any temperature different from Tc, the correlation functions are assumed to reflect the ``hydrodynamic'' behavior of the system, for sufficiently long wavelengths and low frequencies. As the critical temperature is approached, however, the range ξ of spatial correlations in the system diverges, and the domain of applicability of hydrodynamics is reduced to very small wavenumbers, satisfying the inequality kξ≪1. The dynamic scaling assumptions relate the behavior of the time-dependent correlation functions in the ``hydrodynamic'' (kξ≪1) and ``critical'' (kξ≫1) regions. It is thus possible to predict certain features of the dynamic behavior at Tc, from a knowledge of the behavior away from Tc. Application is made to the spin-correlation function of the isotropic Heisenberg antiferromagnet, which is directly measurable by inelastic neutron scattering. Detailed predictions are presented on the form of the cross section as a function of energy and momentum transfer, and of temperature near Tc.
"Critical point phenomena in magnetic systems are studied with the aid of the scaling laws. These laws relate the critical indices which describe the behavior of thermodynamic and correlation functions near T. Kadanoff's derivation of the scaling 1aw is reviewed. An experimental survey of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic data near T is presented. Susceptibility, correlation length, magnectization, specific heat and a magnetic equation of state are discussed. It is found that the ""critical region"" can extend as far as [equation] although frequently it is restricted to E < 10-2 The critical indices S, y, v, ~ and ~, are close to the three dimensional ISing model values. Values for 0, y' and ~ are not known as conclusively. Specific heat behavior is discussed in terms -~ of a three-parameter fit, namely C = aE + b. Varying b allows one to estimate a possible range of a's. The experimental information is consistent with the scaling law relations 2 - alpha = 2 - alpha' = dV = d gamma / (2-pi) = gamma + 2B = B(d+1) The scaling law theory is extended to predict the temperature, field and spatial dependence of various spin correlation functions. These predictions are checked by analytic calculations for the two dimensional Ising model in zero field. Results are presented for the energy density-energy density and energy density-spin correlation functions in the limit E « 1, R » 1, but the product ER arbitrary. Results are also presented for a group of two, three and four spin correlations at cT. In each case the scaling law predictions are verified."
The Kadanoff theory of scaling near the critical point for an Ising ferromagnet is cast in differential form. The resulting differential equations are an example of the differential equations of the renormalization group. It is shown that the Widom-Kadanoff scaling laws arise naturally from these differential equations if the coefficients in the equations are analytic at the critical point. A generalization of the Kadanoff scaling picture involving an "irrelevant" variable is considered; in this case the scaling laws result from the renormalization-group equations only if the solution of the equations goes asymptotically to a fixed point.
Abstract For a number of quantum critical points in one dimension quantum field theory has provided exact results for the scaling of spatial and temporal correlation functions. Experimental realizations of these models can be found in certain quasi one dimensional antiferromagnetic materials. Measuring the predicted scaling laws experimentally presents formidable technical challenges. In many cases it only became possible recently, thanks to qualitative progress in the development of inelastic neutron scattering techniques and to the discovery of new model compounds. Here we review some of the recent experimental studies of this type.
The dynamics of critical fluctuations is treated theoretically by extending the usual macroscopic dynamical variables to include all other dynamical variables that could exhibit the critical slowing-down. The equations of motion for these generalized macroscopic dynamical variables are derived with the help of Mori's general theory of Brownian motion, which involve the “first moment frequency matrix” Ωq and the microscopic damping for these new dynamical variables, where q is the wave vector characterizing macroscopic inhomogeneity. The latter involves only the dynamical variables that perform rapid random motions and is disregarded, or is disposed of by means of a dimensional argument. Then the dynamics of critical fluctuations is completely governed by Ωq which is expressed in terms of equaltime correlations of long wave-length fluctuations only and allows the analysis with the help of the Widom-Kadanoff static scaling laws. The theory is applied to the problem of anomalous spin relaxations in ferro and antiferromagnets in the paramagnetic region, and the inverse characteristic times near the transition points are found to behave asymptotically as κ(5-η)/2f(q/κ) and κ3/2f(q/κ), respectively, where κ is the inverse correlation range of spin fluctuations and η the parameter measuring the deviation of spin pair correlation from the Ornstein-Zernike form. Finally a close analogy is pointed out between the present treatment of critical fluctuations are the theory of hydrodynamic turbulence.