Observation of the doubling of critical exponents in reentrant phase transitions

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Abstract Electrical resistance ( R ) measurements are reported for ternary mixtures of 3-methylpyridine, water and heavy water as a function of temperature ( T ) and heavy water content in total water. These mixtures exhibit a limited two-phase region marked by a loop size (Δ T ) that goes to zero as the double critical point (DCP) is approached. The measurements scanned the Δ T range 1.010°C ⩽ Δ T ⩽ 77.5°C. The critical exponent (θ), which signifies the divergence of ∂ R /∂ T , doubles within our experimental uncertainties as the DCP is reached very closely.