English

Critical end point behaviour in a binary fluid mixture

Statistical Mechanics 2016-08-31 v1

Abstract

We consider the liquid-gas phase boundary in a binary fluid mixture near its critical end point. Using general scaling arguments we show that the diameter of the liquid-gas coexistence curve exhibits singular behaviour as the critical end point is approached. This prediction is tested by means of extensive Monte-Carlo simulations of a symmetrical Lennard-Jones binary mixture within the grand canonical ensemble. The simulation results show clear evidence for the proposed singularity, as well as confirming a previously predicted singularity in the coexistence chemical potential [Fisher and Upton, Phys. Rev. Lett. 65, 2402 (1990)]. The results suggest that the observed singularities, particularly that in the coexistence diameter, should also be detectable experimentally.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/9704099,
  title  = {Critical end point behaviour in a binary fluid mixture},
  author = {Nigel B. Wilding},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/9704099},
  year   = {2016}
}

Comments

17 pages Revtex, 11 epsf figures. To appear in Phys. Rev. E