Asymptotic freedom and noninteger dimensionality.

This paper shows that below a critical value of dimensionality that lies between two and three, the potential between objects begins to fall as the energy levels increase. For dimensionality below two, the potential becomes constant irrespective of separation and the force between them disappears, which represents a new paradigm of asymptotic freedom. Since asymptotic freedom is at the basis of many applications such as those associated with strange metals, unconventional superconductors, and fractional quantum Hall states, the new paradigm can have novel applications. It also is of relevance to the study of anomalous mechanical effects that are important in metamaterials.