The phase transition

The following sections are included:

• Free energies

  • Metals: mean field behavior

  • Examples of non-mean field behavior

  • The anomalous normal state in the ceramics

• Fluctuations

  • The small grain case

  • Three-dimensional fluctuations: quasi-mean field treatment

  • The heat capacity transition in the High T_c: the case of YBCO

  • The heat capacity transition in high anisotropy cuprates

• Condensation energies

• Summary

• Further reading