  We consider electron self-trapping due to its interaction with
order-parameter fluuctuations at the second-order phase-transition or critical
point (for example, at the Curie temperature in magnetic or ferroelectric
semiconductors). Using Feynman path integral approach the autolocalization
energy and the size of the self-trapped state (fluctuon) are estimated. It is
shown that the fluctuon states are connected with the Lifshitz tail of the
electron density-of-states, the parameters of this tail being determined by the
critical exponents.
