title: Quasi-critical fluctuations: a novel state of matter?
abstract: Quasi-critical fluctuations occur close to critical points or close to continuous phase transitions. In three-dimensional systems, precision tuning is required to access the fluctuation regime. Lowering the dimensionality enhances the parameter space for quasi-critical fluctuations considerably. This enables one to make use of novel properties emerging in fluctuating systems, such as giant susceptibilities, Casimir forces or novel quasi-particle interactions. Examples are discussed ranging from simple metal-adsorbate systems to unconventional superconductivity in iron-based superconductors.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52a, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Erminald
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bertel
keywords: Charge density wave; Fluctuations; High-Tc superconductors; Low-dimensional systems; Phase transitions