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A complex amplitude describing a coherent condensate in mean-field theory. In the convention $\int |\psi {|}^2{d}^{3}r=N$, its squared modulus is the condensate density. Dividing by $\sqrt{N}$ gives a normalized orbital; formulas for interaction strengths and nonlinear terms must use the same normalization convention.

For a repulsive contact-interacting Bose-Einstein condensate, the classical Hamiltonian density generating evolution in a frame rotating at the chemical potential is $\mathcal{K}={\hslash }^2|\nabla \psi {|}^2/(2M)-\mu |\psi {|}^2+g|\psi {|}^4/2$. Its integral is the grand canonical ensemble generator $H-\mu N$, not the physical energy $H$ alone. For $g,\mu >0$ the uniform mean-field theory minima satisfy $|{\psi }_0{|}^2=\mu /g$, with a freely chosen constant phase. In the physical frame, the corresponding field has time factor $e^{-i\mu t/\hslash }$.

The mean-field approximation replaces interactions with a self-consistent average field, neglecting correlated fluctuations around that average.

This is a use of mean-field theory, whose general framework also applies beyond a Landau free-energy model.

Mean-field theory replaces fluctuating interactions with a self-consistent average field. For example, an Ising spin feels a field determined by the average neighboring spin magnetization; a self-consistency equation approximates the interacting Ising model. Neglecting correlated fluctuations can fail near a continuous phase transition. The mean-field approximation in Landau theory is a particular use of this general framework.

A strong negative surface potential creates exponentially enhanced positive counterion density and exponentially suppressed negative co-ion density. The co-ion population remains positive, unlike an extrapolated linear approximation. Finite ion size and correlations eventually limit the applicability of point-ion mean-field theory.

Use $⟨O⟩=⟨G|O|G⟩$. The given state is a two-species uniform boson number state: only the $q=0$ mode of each species is occupied. Applying an annihilation operator to an unoccupied mode gives zero, while $A_0^{†}{A}_0$ has eigenvalue $n_A$. ThusThe two species have independent fixed occupation numbers, so mixed expectation values factorize. The inverse discrete Fourier transforms yieldIn the momentum-space Hamiltonian operator, only $p=q=r=t=0$ contributes: each annihilation operator must remove an occupied boson, and each creation operator must restore it to the same mode. HenceThere is no replacement of $n_B$ by $n_B+1$ in this energy: in the real-space calculation the relevant neighboring-site commutator is zero. Both expressions assume distinct neighbouring sites, as in ii.

To match the prescribed spin length in the mean, impose $n_A+n_B=2sL=:N$. At fixed integer $N$, the energy is minimized by maximizing $n_A{n}_B=[N^2-(n_A-n_B{)}^2]/4$. Consequently the best choices within this relaxed family areWhen $N$ is even, $n_A=n_B=sL$ and $⟨H⟩=-J{s}^{2}L$. When $N$ is odd, either assignment of $(N-1)/2,(N+1)/2$ gives $⟨H⟩=-J(N^2-1)/(4L)$. Without fixing $N$, this auxiliary boson Hamiltonian operator has no lower bound: taking $n_A=n_B\to \infty$ sends its expectation value to $-\infty$.

Next, $S_i^x=(a_i^{†}{b}_i+b_i^{†}{a}_i)/2$. Each term changes the two species' occupation numbers, producing a state orthogonal to $|G⟩$. ThereforeFor distinct sites $i,j$ modulo $L$, expand the product of the two spin operators. The terms $S_i^{+}{S}_j^{+}$ and $S_i^{-}{S}_j^{-}$ again have zero expectation value. The remaining terms giveHere $⟨b_i{b}_j^{†}⟩=n_B/L+{\delta }_{ij}$ and the Kronecker delta vanishes at distinct sites. ConsequentlyThe same holds for the $y$ components. At the balanced choice and as $L\to \infty$, each transverse two-point correlation function tends to $s^2/2$ independently of separation, whereas the one-point transverse magnetization is zero. This is transverse spin order in a number eigenstate: the state has a definite total $S^z=(n_A-n_B)/2$ and retains the global U(1) symmetry of rotations about $z$, yet has the transverse correlations of an ordered state with no selected common azimuth. The sum of the $x$ and $y$ correlations tends to $s^2$, describing ferromagnetic long-range order within this approximation. The thermodynamic limit is understood with both the separation and $L$ growing, without identifying the two sites periodically.

Fixed-spin qualification. The proposed state is not actually in the physical fixed-$s$ Hilbert space for $s>0,L>1$. It satisfies the local spin constraint in the Schwinger boson representation only in expectation value. For example, with $L=2,s=1/2,n_A=n_B=1$,The nonzero component $a_0^{†}{b}_0^{†}|\mathrm{vac}⟩/2$ has local total occupation numbers $(2,0)$ and hence local spins $(1,0)$, instead of $(1/2,1/2)$. More generally the local total number operator $N_n$ has varianceEach species contributes a binomial distribution at a given site, with success probability $1/L$, and the two contributions are independent. In the physical subspace that variance must be zero. The proposed state even hasby the Casimir operator identity from a. Thus the calculated energy is a relaxed mean-field theory estimate, not a Rayleigh-Ritz variational principle bound for the stated fixed-$s$ quantum XY chain. Projecting onto $N_n=2s$ at every site would give a physical trial state and generally change its expectation values; in the two-site example the projected state has energy $-J$, whereas the unprojected value is $-J/2$. The calculated long-range order characterizes the supplied approximation and does not establish long-range order in the exact one-dimensional ground state.

Full dissociation gives bulk concentrations in $\mathrm{mM}$ of $155$ for sodium, $5$ for potassium, $2$ for calcium, $114$ for chloride, and $25$ for hydrogen phosphate. The positive and negative charge concentrations are both $164\mathrm{mM}$, so the bulk is electrically neutral. At $T=298.15\mathrm{K}$,The Boltzmann distribution then givesFor completeness the coion concentrations are $114e^{-\nu }=6.65196\mathrm{mM}$ and $25e^{-2\nu }=0.0851195\mathrm{mM}$. They are depleted, not zero. Using $1\mathrm{mM}=1\mathrm{mol}{\mathrm{m}}^{-3}$ and multiplying molar concentrations by the Avogadro constant in the Grahame equation givesThis calculation retains every species. Since $|{\varphi }_0|/V_T=2.84$, a linear Debye–Hückel approximation is not justified. The large accumulation, especially of divalent counterions, follows from the valence in the Boltzmann factor. However, multi-molar local concentrations also warn that point-ion mean-field theory neglects finite ion size, hydration, specific adsorption, correlations, and changes in local permittivity. These are predictions of the stated idealized model, not precise measured interfacial concentrations.

An ionic atmosphere. A negatively charged molecule attracts positive counterions and repels negative co-ions; signs reverse for a positive molecule. The resulting electric double layer partially screens the bare electric field. Far from an isolated molecule, the electrolyte recovers its neutral bulk composition. At thermodynamic equilibrium, spatial uniformity of each species' electrochemical potential requiresThe logarithm implicitly uses a common reference density. This result for Boltzmann ion densities in a symmetric electrolyte neglects ion correlations, finite size and nonideal activities, but shows immediately why equal concentrations of the two signs do not persist close to a charged surface.

Self-consistent screening. Insert these densities into Poisson's equation, with solvent permittivity $ϵ$ and fixed charge density ${\rho }_f$:This is the Poisson-Boltzmann equation. For a symmetric monovalent salt with bulk density $n_s$ of each sign, outside the fixed charge it becomesFor $|z_{i}e\psi |\ll k_{B}T$, linearizing and using bulk neutrality gives the Debye–Hückel approximationThus added salt shortens the Debye length: electrostatic screening becomes stronger over a shorter distance. The factor of two in a $1:1$ salt comes from two ionic species, not from double-counting the density of salt pairs.

For example, a charged sphere of radius $a$ and total charge $Q$ has the exterior linearized solutionassuming fixed uniform surface charge and no ions inside. It follows from the decaying spherical solution and $-ϵ{\psi }^{\prime }(a)=Q/(4\pi a^2)$. At zero salt it reduces to the Coulomb potential; at finite salt it decays exponentially as well as geometrically. The excess mobile charge integrates to $-Q$ in an infinite neutralizing reservoir, although a finite sphere surrounding the molecule generally contains only part of that ionic atmosphere.

Biophysical scales and limitations. In water at room temperature, the monovalent formula is approximately ${\lambda }_D=0.304\mathrm{nm}/\sqrt{I/(\mathrm{mol}{\mathrm{L}}^{-1})}$, with $I$ the ionic strength. It gives about $0.79\mathrm{nm}$ at $0.15\mathrm{mol}{\mathrm{L}}^{-1}$ and $9.6\mathrm{nm}$ at $1\mathrm{mmol}{\mathrm{L}}^{-1}$. Consequently the same charged protein can exert very different long-range interactions mediated by electrostatics at different salt concentrations. Close to strongly charged DNA, the linear approximation fails; nonlinear screening, counterion condensation, ion-specific adsorption and changes of surface ionization through charge regulation may matter. Mean-field theory also misses strong multivalent-ion correlations and finite-size saturation: the exponential law cannot be extrapolated to arbitrarily large near-surface concentrations.

Define $\mathcal{H}=-2J{\sum }_{⟨ij⟩}{\mathbf{S}}_i\cdot {\mathbf{S}}_j$. Each site has $z=6$ exchange-connected neighbours. In mean-field theory, replacing neighbours by their mean spin produces the effective field that yieldsThusfor Mn, Fe, Co and Ni. Negative $J$ means antiferromagnetic exchange in this convention; a Hamiltonian written with $-J$ instead of $-2J$ would have twice these numerical values. The increasingly negative values indicate a growing effective exchange energy, although different orbital occupancy and anisotropy mean that they are not a simple universal function of $d$-electron number.

A three-dimensional six-connected framework is more favourable to mean-field reasoning than isolated chains, but the theory neglects short-range correlations, anisotropic exchange and fluctuations. The ratios $|\Theta |/T_C\simeq 1.65,1.69,3.75,2.10$ show substantial departures from the simplest unfrustrated isotropic mean-field relation. The values are therefore effective high-temperature exchange estimates, not a complete microscopic fit to the ordered phases.

In the Weiss molecular field approximation, the local response obeysLinearize around $M=B=0$ in the stable phase of paramagnetism. Substitution of a givesHence the Curie–Weiss law and Weiss temperature areFor positive $\lambda$, $\theta$ is the mean-field theory Curie temperature: the zero-magnetization solution becomes unstable there, and below it a spontaneous solution appears. For negative coupling, a negative fitted Weiss temperature indicates predominantly opposing interactions, but this one-uniform-magnetization treatment does not determine an antiferromagnetic ordering pattern or its transition temperature. More generally the fitted Weiss temperature need not equal the observed ordering temperature.

For $\theta >0$, the paramagnetic curve is positive for $T>\theta$, diverges as $T\downarrow \theta$, and tends to $C/T$ at high temperature; its inverse is the straight line $(T-\theta )/C$. The expression is not the stable susceptibility below $\theta$. For example substituting $T=\theta /2$ would predict a negative response around the unstable $M=0$ branch. The nonlinear self-consistency equation must instead be expanded about the appropriate spontaneous magnetization.

Ferromagnetic interactions enhance the response above the ordering transition. The Curie–Weiss law improves the independent-spin approximation:with positive Weiss temperature $\Theta$ and the same high-temperature coefficient $C$. In a simple mean-field theory, take $\Theta =T_c=70\mathrm{K}$. More generally $\Theta$ is fitted and need not equal $T_c$, and the simple pole does not give exact critical behaviour arbitrarily close to the transition.

At zero temperature, a selected ferromagnetic orientation has all magnetic moments aligned. Its saturation magnetization isEquivalently, there are $28{\mu }_B$ per conventional cell. The moment points along either allowed easy-axis direction at zero magnetic field. This is the local or single-domain spontaneous magnetization; a macroscopic multidomain sample can have smaller, even zero, net magnetization in the absence of a selecting field.

Choose the positive spontaneous branch for $H_z=0$. Its magnetization starts at $M_s(0)$, decreases with temperature, and reaches zero continuously at $T_c$. It remains zero for $T_c\le T<2T_c$. There is an equally valid negative branch below $T_c$; domain averaging can instead give zero net moment.

A fixed small positive magnetic field intensity selects the positive branch. At zero temperature it still saturates at $M_s(0)$; at intermediate temperature it increases the magnetization relative to the zero-field branch. It rounds the zero-field transition and leaves a positive magnetization above $T_c$, tending in the linear-response region to $C{H}_z/(T-\Theta )$. The magnetization therefore does not vanish at $T_c$ in the nonzero-field curve.

For a concrete labelled sketch, the figure uses the illustrative mean-field theory equationIt shows $h=0$ and a fixed small $h=0.01$. The curve is an illustrative equilibrium equation of state, not a determination of the precise critical exponents of GdN. At $h>0$ no symmetry-breaking transition remains along this temperature sweep.

Let $s=⟨S_i^z⟩$ be uniform, with dimensionless spin operators $S=1/2$. The factor $1/2$ in the source Hamiltonian removes double counting of pairs. Decoupling ${\mathbf{S}}_i\cdot {\mathbf{S}}_j$ about a uniform polarization gives the one-site mean-field theory HamiltonianA body-centred-cubic site has eight nearest neighbors and six next-nearest neighbors, soFor a spin one half in this effective field, the mean-field self-consistency equation isLinearizing at the continuous onset gives $s=J_{0}s/(4k_{B}T)+O(s^3)$, henceEquivalently, the general spin-$S$ result is $k_B{T}_C^{\mathrm{MF}}=S(S+1)J_0/3$. The antiferromagnetic next-nearest-neighbor exchange reduces the uniform ordering scale rather than contributing its absolute magnitude. The negative nuclear g-factor does not change this exchange instability; aligning the spins also aligns their moments with one another.

For these particular competing couplings, the uniform mode is indeed the largest exchange eigenvalue. Writing $x=\cos (q_{x}a/2)$, $y=\cos (q_{y}a/2)$ and $z=\cos (q_{z}a/2)$ giveswith equality at $\mathbf{q}=0$ modulo reciprocal lattice vectors. To see the bound, replace a negative $xyz$ by its absolute value for an upper bound, let $t=(|xyz|{)}^{1/3}$, and use $x^2+y^2+z^2\ge 3t^2$. The expression is at most $8t^3-6t^2+3$, whose maximum on $0\le t\le 1$ is five. Thus another modulation does not preempt the stated ferromagnetic onset at this level of mean-field theory. Fluctuations can change the actual transition temperature.

The Weiss temperature $\Theta$ is the extrapolated zero of $1/\chi$ in a Curie–Weiss law fit. It summarizes the leading high-temperature effect of interactions between magnetic moments. For the sign conventionwhere ${\mathbf{J}}_i$ are dimensionless angular momentum operators, mean-field theory givesThus positive net exchange interaction in this convention favours parallel magnetic moments, giving $\Theta >0$ and tendencies towards ferromagnetism; negative net exchange interaction favours antiparallel magnetic moments, giving $\Theta <0$ and antiferromagnetic tendencies. Competing interactions can partially cancel in this sum. The Weiss temperature need not equal the actual ordering temperature, and its sign alone is not a complete determination of the low-temperature ordered structure.

For competing exchanges on a body-centred cubic antiferromagnet, use the Heisenberg model convention $H={\sum }_{⟨ij⟩}{J}_{ij}{\mathbf{S}}_i\cdot {\mathbf{S}}_j$, with each bond counted once, dimensionless spins, and positive antiferromagnetic $J$. There are eight nearest and six next-nearest neighbours. Bond counting in the two classical collinear structures givesFor type II the eight $J_1$ contributions cancel, while all six $J_2$ bonds are antiparallel. Their crossing yields $c=2/3$. One can also exclude a lower spiral within the classical bilinear model: writing $u_i=\cos (q_{i}a/2)$ givesFor a favourable sign of the product, $u_x^2+u_y^2+u_z^2\ge 3|u_x{u}_y{u}_z{|}^{2/3}\ge 3|u_x{u}_y{u}_z|$. Hence when $J_2\ge 2J_1/3$ its minimum is at $u_x=u_y=u_z=0$, the type-II ordering vectors. When $J_2\le 2J_1/3$, compare with the type-I value and use $3-\sum u_i^2\le 3(1-|u_x{u}_y{u}_z|)$ to obtain the complementary bound. ThusThis is a classical/mean-field energy comparison; an exact quantum ground state is not generally a collinear product state.

For type I a magnetic cell is the simple cube of side $a$, with opposite moments at $0$ and $a(1,1,1)/2$. Its magnetic structure factor is proportional to $1-e^{i\pi (h+k+l)}$. Allowed magnetic reflections have integer $h,k,l$ with $h+k+l$ odd. The first two families are $(100)$ and $(111)$, with symmetry-equivalent members understood.

For type II choose magnetic primitive translations $a(1,1,0)$, $a(1,0,1)$ and $a(0,1,1)$, enclosing four spins in volume $2a^3$. Equivalently, a side-$2a$ cube is a convenient nonprimitive magnetic cell. On each original simple-cubic sublattice the moment at $a\mathbf{n}$ is proportional to $(-1{)}^{n_x+n_y+n_z}$. Accordingly,The translated body-centre basis gives $1+e^{i\pi (h+k+l)}=1\pm i$, so there is no further extinction. The first two families are $(1/2,1/2,1/2)$ and $(3/2,1/2,1/2)$. The neutron polarization factor may additionally suppress a reflection for a particular moment direction; the stated rules are the positional selection rules.

Each sublattice has number density $n_A=1/a^3$ and saturation magnetization $M_s=g{\mu }_{B}S/a^3$. Replacing neighbouring spins by their averages makes their exchange energy equivalent to a molecular magnetic field. Its minus sign expresses antiferromagnetic exchange, not an externally applied field. Since $⟨S_B⟩=M_B/(n_{A}g{\mu }_B)$,For $M_B=-M_A$, $B_{\mathrm{mf}}=({\lambda }_{AB}-{\lambda }_{AA})M_A$. Linearizing the Brillouin magnetization formula givesThe g-factor cancels because exchange is specified in energy units. A convention with $2J{\mathbf{S}}_i\cdot {\mathbf{S}}_j$ doubles these exchange energies and $T_N$.

Let $m=M_A/M_s$, $A=(S+1)/(3S)$ and let $b_B>0$ denote the cubic coefficient of the Brillouin magnetization formula. The argument is $y=(T_N/T)m/A$. Thus $m=Ay-b_B{y}^3$ impliesConsequently $\boxed{\beta =1/2}$ in mean-field theory. The positive branch falls from saturation at zero temperature to zero at $T_N$ and remains zero above it. An elastic magnetic neutron-reflection intensity scales as $I\propto M_A^2$; a log–log fit against $T_N-T$ has slope $2\beta$. Background subtraction and a suitable critical interval are needed. Fluctuations can change the measured exponent from its mean-field value; uniform bulk magnetization vanishes for a compensated antiferromagnet and is not itself this order parameter.

To obtain the Boltzmann equation, take a dilute gas with a short-range pair potential. Its interaction range is small compared with the mean free path and the spatial scale on which the phase-space distribution function changes. The binary collision approximation treats encounters as isolated elastic collisions; simultaneous encounters involving three or more particles can be neglected. The encounter duration is short compared with the collision relaxation time and macroscopic evolution time, and the external force changes negligibly during an encounter. This permits local, effectively instantaneous scattering at one position $\mathbf{x}$.

The essential statistical closure is molecular chaos for the Boltzmann equation: the distribution of incoming pairs factorizes as $f{f}_{\star }$. Outgoing pairs need not be independent. Follow each incoming pair through its two-body scattering, and use conservation of momentum and kinetic energy, together with time reversal and the invariant scattering measure, to express both gain and loss in the same variables. This givesHere $d\Omega =\sin \theta d\theta d\phi$; when the measure is written as $d\theta d\phi$, its Jacobian is included in the Boltzmann scattering kernel. In a scattering-angle convention, that kernel contains relative speed times differential scattering cross-section. The hemisphere prevents double counting equivalent outcomes for indistinguishable particles; the precise factor is included in $B$. The primed velocities are connected to the unprimed ones by the reversible elastic collision map. This closure is appropriate for a dilute short-range gas, rather than a generic long-range interacting system with an important collective mean-field theory contribution.

The further replacement by the BGK model is a phenomenological relaxation closure. Replace the full nonlinear Boltzmann collision operator by relaxation towards a local Maxwellian, with a single, velocity-independent collision relaxation time $\tau >0$:It models relaxation towards a local Maxwellian without resolving the detailed scattering. Treating $\tau$ as constant is an additional simplification; it is of the order of a mean time between effective collisions. Near a local Maxwellian, departures in the nonconserved velocity moments decay on this timescale.

Choose $f^{(0)}$ to match the collision invariants $1$, $\mathbf{v}$ and $|\mathbf{v}{|}^2$ of $f$. For unit particle mass, this meansHere $\rho$ is the mass density, $\mathbf{u}$ is the mean velocity, and $\Theta$ is the temperature in squared-velocity units, $\Theta =k_{B}T/m$ before setting $m=1$. In particular,Thus relaxation preserves local mass, momentum and kinetic energy rather than relaxing them to externally prescribed values.

The Landau-Ginzburg theory for a scalar order parameter supplements a local symmetry-allowed potential with a gradient penalty. For a ${\mathbb{Z}}_2$ symmetry at zero field, a stable quartic model iswith $r=a(T-T_c)$ near a mean-field transition. Equilibrium fluctuations have weight $e^{-F/(k_{B}T)}$. In the Landau approximation, minimize the functional. A uniform stationary state obeys $r\varphi +u{\varphi }^3=h$. At zero field the minimum is $\varphi =0$ for $r>0$ and $\varphi =\pm \sqrt{-r/u}$ for $r<0$. The latter pair is spontaneous symmetry breaking of the discrete symmetry.

The uniform free-energy density at its minimum is zero above the transition and $-r^2/(4u)$ below, up to regular backgrounds. Differentiating the equation of state gives ${\chi }_{+}=1/r$ and ${\chi }_{-}=1/(2|r|)$. At $r=0$, $\varphi =(h/u{)}^{1/3}$. Gaussian fluctuations around the minimum have inverse covariance $(K{q}^2+r)/(k_{B}T)$ above and $(K{q}^2+2|r|)/(k_{B}T)$ below. Their correlation lengths are ${\xi }_{+}=(K/r{)}^{1/2}$ and ${\xi }_{-}=(K/(2|r|){)}^{1/2}$. These results give the usual mean-field critical exponentsThe heat capacity has a finite jump rather than a power-law divergence. Negative quartic coefficient requires higher stabilizing terms and can produce a first-order transition; a vanishing quartic coefficient requires a tricritical analysis. Thus the assumed positivity of $u$ matters.

The Ginzburg criterion tests whether this saddle description is self-consistent. Below the transition compare fluctuations of the order parameter averaged over a correlation volume with its squared mean-field value ${\varphi }_0^2=|r|/u$. Modes with $q\lesssim {\xi }^{-1}$ dominate this coarse-grained fluctuation estimate:where the positive dimensionless $A_D$ depends on the averaging window and the factor of two used in $\xi$. Dividing by ${\varphi }_0^2$ givesIt is the fluctuation of a correlation-volume average, not the full cutoff-dominated microscopic variance, that should be compared with the mean-field order parameter.

For $D<4$, $\mathcal{G}$ diverges as $r\to 0$, so the asymptotic critical region is fluctuation dominated. Away from it, mean-field theory can still work whenFor $D>4$, the long-wavelength ratio tends to zero near criticality, consistently with Gaussian control and mean-field thermodynamic exponents. At $D=4$, quartic coupling is marginal; scale-dependent logarithms require a renormalization-group analysis rather than interpreting a constant bare ratio as a proof of no corrections. This identifies four as the upper critical dimension of the short-range scalar quartic model.

The Landau-Ginzburg theory is valuable because symmetries restrict a manageable list of local operators, the gradient term describes correlations and interfaces, and the Ginzburg criterion identifies when neglected fluctuations become decisive. Below the upper critical dimension an interacting renormalization-group fixed point, rather than the bare saddle, determines universal exponents. For continuous order parameters the manifold of ordered minima also has Goldstone modes, and lower-critical-dimension fluctuations require separate attention. Mean-field minimization supplies an approximation; the Ginzburg ratio decides whether its neglect of fluctuations is justified.

Reading the lowest point of the order-disorder boundary in the supplied experimental diagram gives approximately(about $0.45$–$0.47$, allowing for the graphical resolution). The ordered region just above that minimum is lamellar.

This is a reading of the supplied polyisoprene-polystyrene phase diagram. It should not be replaced by the often quoted symmetric-chain mean-field theory value $10.5$: that refers to a different idealization and is not the minimum drawn here.

A coarse-grained scalar order parameter $\varphi (\mathbf{x})$ describes a short-range Ising-like transition with sign symmetry. Write the dimensionless Landau-Ginzburg functional asHere $r=a_{t}t$, with the relevant critical-mass shift understood when fluctuations are included. Higher local powers and gradients are negligible only within a justified long-distance expansion. The partition function is $Z=\int \mathcal{D}\varphi e^{-\mathcal{H}}$ with a microscopic cutoff. The local functional is not already the fluctuation-integrated thermodynamic free energy.

Mean-field theory replaces this integral by its stable uniform saddle, $r{\varphi }_0+u{\varphi }_0^3=h$. At $h=0$,The branch curvature is $r_L=r+3u{\varphi }_0^2$: it is $r$ above and $2|r|$ below. HenceTogether with the finite heat-capacity jump from $f_{\min }$, this yieldsThe equal-$|t|$ susceptibility amplitude ratio is two. Uniform saddles also miss domain walls and spatial texture. For an $n$-component order parameter, symmetry allows a vector generalization; ordered transverse directions additionally carry Goldstone fluctuations.

To include small fluctuations set $\varphi ={\varphi }_0+\delta \varphi$. The Gaussian action is $\frac{1}{2}\int [c(\nabla \delta \varphi {)}^2+r_L(\delta \varphi {)}^2]$, givingThe displayed $G(q)$ is a spectral covariance per Fourier delta, avoiding an extra volume factor. As $r_L\to 0$, a growing correlation length lets increasingly large correlated regions fluctuate. The singular Gaussian heat correction contains $\int d^{d}q/(c{q}^2+r_L{)}^2$, which is infrared singular for $d<4$ and logarithmic at four. This signals failure of a simple saddle expansion; the Gaussian heat exponent obtained by extrapolation is not the exact interacting critical exponent.

The Ginzburg criterion compares the fluctuation of a correlation-volume average with ${\varphi }_0^2$, rather than using all ultraviolet fluctuations at a point. Keeping $q\lesssim {\xi }^{-1}$ below the transition gives, up to finite convention-dependent constants,Dividing by ${\varphi }_0^2=|r|/u$ yieldsFor $d<4$, writing $r=a_{t}t$ gives a nonuniversal Ginzburg reduced-temperature windowInside $|t|\lesssim \mathrm{Gi}$, interacting fluctuations must be treated. For example, in three dimensions $\mathrm{Gi}\sim u^2/(c^3{a}_t)$ in this normalization. Above four dimensions the long-wavelength ratio vanishes at criticality; at four it is marginal and interaction-generated logarithms require further analysis.

The spatial gradient term supplies correlations absent from uniform Landau theory. The Ginzburg test bounds where its mean-field saddle remains self-consistent; it does not compute nonclassical exponents or a universal material-independent window.^[ref]

Use the reduced attractive reduced BCS pairing Hamiltonian with volume V, ${\xi }_k={\epsilon }_k-\mu$ and attraction $\lambda >0$:A specified pairing shell or an ultraviolet renormalization is part of the model. The trace is grand canonical. Insert fermionic coherent states into its time-sliced trace. The resulting Grassmann variables are antiperiodic, and with inverse-energy imaginary time $0\le \tau \le \beta$ the dimensionless action isThis boundary condition is essential for Fermi-Dirac statistics; replacing it by a bosonic periodic trace changes the answer. A complex Hubbard–Stratonovich transformation uses the local identitywith time-slice factors understood. The pairing field renders the fermion action quadratic. For a uniform static field the independent Nambu spinor block $({\psi }_{k\uparrow },{\bar{\psi }}_{-k\downarrow }{)}^T$ hasIts determinant is $-({\omega }_n^2+E_k^2)$. The phase-independent determinant sign cancels under consistent reference normalization. Integrating the fermions gives the BCS pairing-field effective action, ${\mathcal{S}}_{\mathrm{eff}}={\int }_0^{\beta }V|\Delta {|}^2/\lambda d\tau -\mathrm{Tr}\ln {\mathcal{G}}^{-1}$, with the normal-ordering/reference term retained. The fermionic pairing-block determinant normalization uses one independent pairing block for every k; a fully doubled spin-particle-hole trace instead needs one half. The subtracted grand potential of the reduced BCS model is particularly unambiguous:Performing the Matsubara frequency sum yieldsup to a common constant. At zero gap this reduces exactly to the two-spin free-gas result. The Matsubara derivation of the BCS saddle follows by differentiating with respect to ${\Delta }^{\ast }$ and using ${\beta }^{-1}{\sum }_n({\omega }_n^2+E^2{)}^{-1}=\tanh (\beta E/2)/(2E)$ givesThe second equation fixes the chemical potential at specified number. This stationary action is BCS mean-field theory, not an exact integration of pairing-field fluctuations. With constant single-spin density of states ${\nu }_F$ per volume and a symmetric energy cutoff $\Lambda$, weak coupling gives $\Delta (0)\simeq 2\Lambda e^{-1/(\lambda {\nu }_F)}$ and $k_B{T}_c\simeq (2e^{{\gamma }_E}/\pi )\Lambda e^{-1/(\lambda {\nu }_F)}$. The zero-temperature condensation grand-potential density is $-{\nu }_F{\Delta }^2/2$ to leading weak-coupling order; using a spin-summed density would change these displayed factors. The BCS coherence factors are $u_k^2=(1+{\xi }_k/E_k)/2$ and $v_k^2=(1-{\xi }_k/E_k)/2$, and the associated BCS ground state is the normalized product of empty and occupied pair states. ^[ref]

Allowing a slowly varying complex pairing field generates phase stiffness and, near the transition, the Ginzburg-Landau theory of superconductivity. A neutral paired system has a gapless phase sound mode; in a charged bulk superconductor electromagnetic coupling produces the Anderson-Higgs mechanism in a superconductor and the Meissner effect. These collective fluctuations are distinct from the gapped fermionic excitations. A microscopic dynamical calculation is needed to fix collective-mode dispersion and damping; the static saddle alone does not determine them. ^[ref]