Interfacial profile near tricritical points

Abstract

The form of the order-parameter profile separating two coexisting phases on the triple line near a (nonsymmetric) tricritical point is presented. The calculation is specifically for $d=3\mathrm{}$, in which case the results are asymptotically exact including leading logarithmic corrections to the mean-field correlation length and thermodynamic functions. The only corrections to asymptotic tricritical behavior that are included correspond to capillary-wave-like fluctuations. We include suggestions for comparing results for the order parameter "derivative profile" with interface reflectivity measurements such as have been performed on interfaces near critical points.