Finite temperature scaling close to Ising-nematic quantum critical points in two-dimensional metals

Abstract: We study finite temperature properties of metals close to an Ising-nematic quantum critical point in two spatial dimensions. In particular we show that at any finite temperature there is a regime where order parameter fluctuations are characterized by a dynamical critical exponent $z=2$, in contrast to $z=3$ found at zero temperature. Our results are based on a simple Eliashberg-type approach, which gives rise to a boson self-energy proportional to $\Omega/\gamma(T)$ at small momenta, where $\gamma(T)$ is the temperature dependent fermion scattering rate. These findings might shed some light on recent Monte-Carlo simulations at finite temperature, where results consistent with $z=2$ were found.