Experimental observables near a nematic quantum critical point in the pnictide and cuprate superconductors

The high-temperature superconductor SmFeAs(O1-xFx) shows a clear nematic transition where the square lattice of Fe ions has a rectangular distortion. Similar nematic ordering has also been observed in the cuprate superconductors. We provide a detailed theory of experimental observables near such a nematic transition: we calculate the scaling of specific heat, local density of states, and NMR relaxation rate 1/T1T.