Critical Fluctuations of a Type-II Superconductor in a Magnetic Field

Ginzburg's theory of critical fluctuations is used to calculate the specific heat of a type-II superconductor in a magnetic field near the upper critical field. A scaling law for the specific heat is found, and the scaling temperature is given in terms of measurable quantities. Some distance from $T_c$ the fluctuation contribution is proportional to ${|T-T_c|}^{-\frac{3}{2}}$, with known coefficients. The dependence on $\kappa$ is explored. The diamagnetic susceptibility should have the same temperature dependence as the specific heat.