Beyond the Isotropic Lifshitz Endpoint

Abstract

The puzzle of the disappearance of isotropic Lifshitz points in condensed matter physics is explained from the point of view of the Wilsonian renormalization group. In analogy to the commensurate ideas of metamagnetic phase transitions, we describe the physics of thermodynamic states beyond an isotropic Lifshitz endpoint. Such phenomenon may be understood in terms of a statistically isotropic environment of coexisting multi-incommensurate helicoidal states. In addition to the magnetic and condensed matter discussions, we consider also an interesting example in the context of dynamical evolution.