critical phenomena in statistical mechanics

Critical phenomena in statistical mechanics refer to the remarkable behaviors observed near phase transition points, such as the transition from liquid to gas. At these critical points, small changes in conditions cause large, system-wide responses, like fluctuations in density or magnetization. Properties like correlation length—the scale over which particles influence each other—diverge, leading to patterns that look similar at different scales (scale invariance). These phenomena reveal universal features shared across diverse systems, helping scientists understand how collective behavior emerges from microscopic interactions during phase changes.