Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2005/iii/paper-51/1/f/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2005 iii Paper 51 1 f Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
A tricritical point requires two independent even coefficients in the Landau free energy to vanish: , with providing stability. At , the ordinary critical line meets the tricritical three-phase line . The order parameter discontinuity along the first-order line is , which goes to zero at their meeting.
The positive sextic coefficient makes this a different leading local potential from an ordinary quartic critical point. Consequently its mean-field critical exponents, crossover behavior and upper critical dimension differ. There are two relevant even tuning directions near the tricritical point, in addition to the conjugate odd field. The root solution and labelled phase diagram display the three controls and the tricritical wings; varying can give a first-order reversal within the ordered coexistence sheet, a first-order weak/strong transition on a wing, or a continuous transition at a wing's ordinary critical edge.
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