Journal of Physical Studies 13(3), Article 3001 [4 pages] (2009) DOI: https://doi.org/10.30970/jps.13.3001 CRITICAL PHENOMENA: 150 YEARS SINCE CAGNIARD DE LA TOUR Bertrand Berche1, Malte Henkel1, Ralph Kenna2 1Département de Physique de la Matière et des Matériaux, Institut Jean Lamour, Laboratoire associé au CNRS UMR 7198, CNRS--Nancy Université--UPVM, B. P. 70239, F--54506 Vand{\oe}uvre lès Nancy Cedex, France, 2Applied Mathematics Research Centre, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 5FB, England

Critical phenomena were discovered by Cagniard de la Tour in 1822, who died 150 years ago. In order to mark this anniversary, the context and the early history of his discovery is reviewed. We then follow with a brief sketch of the history of critical phenomena, indicating the main lines of development until the present date.

PACS number(s): 01.00.00, 01.60.+q, 01.65.+g, 05.00.00, 05.70.Fh, 05.70.Jk

pdf