1 research outputs found
Critical end point behaviour in a binary fluid mixture
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.Comment: 17 pages Revtex, 11 epsf figures. To appear in Phys. Rev.