Long range interaction yields a new kind of phase transition

TL;DR

This paper explores how long-range interactions in various physical models lead to unique phase transitions characterized by giant non-universal critical indexes and large correlations, challenging traditional thermodynamic approaches.

Contribution

It introduces a new class of phase transitions driven by effective long-range interactions, highlighting their distinct critical behavior and the breakdown of Gibbs distribution near criticality.

Findings

Giant non-universal critical indexes observed

Large macroscopic correlation lengths identified

Thermodynamics must be derived from first principles near transition

Abstract

DNA denaturation, wetting in two dimensions, depinning of a flux line, and other problems map onto a phase transition with effective long range interaction. It yields giant non-universal critical indexes, arbitrarily large macroscopic correlation length and fluctuations at a finite distance from the critical temperature. In the vicinity of this region the Gibbs distribution is invalid, and thermodynamics must be calculated from the first principles. There are no fluctuations above the critical temperature.