THE NATURE OF CRITICALLY IN IONIC FLUIDS

Experiments an critical behaviour in certain electrolytes pose puzzlin g theoretical challenges. Some recent progress by the author and his c o-workers in meeting these challenges through the study of the restric ted primitive model (hard spheres carrying charges +/-q) is summarized briefly. However, basic questions regarding the universality class(es ) of ionic criticality and the factors determining cross-over from mea n-field to Ising behaviour remain unresolved.