Colloid-polymer mixtures in random porous media: Finite size scaling and connected versus disconnected susceptibilities

TL;DR

This study uses Monte Carlo simulations to analyze the critical behavior of colloid-polymer mixtures in porous media, focusing on susceptibilities and finite size scaling, confirming their divergence at criticality within the random-field Ising universality class.

Contribution

It provides a detailed finite size scaling analysis of colloid-polymer mixtures in porous media, highlighting the divergence of susceptibilities and their relation to random-field Ising universality.

Findings

Both connected and disconnected susceptibilities diverge at the critical point.

Finite size scaling analysis reveals compatibility with random-field Ising universality.

Extensive Monte Carlo data across many realizations support the critical behavior conclusions.

Abstract

As a generic model for liquid-vapour type transitions in random porous media, the Asakura-Oosawa model for colloid-polymer mixtures is studied in a matrix of quenched spheres using extensive Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. Since such systems at criticality, as well as in the two-phase region, exhibit lack of self-averaging, the analysis of MC data via finite size scaling requires special care. After presenting the necessary theoretical background and the resulting subtleties of finite size scaling in random-field Ising-type systems, we present data on the order parameter distribution (and its moments) as a function of colloid and polymer fugacities for a broad range of system sizes, and for many (thousands) realizations of the porous medium. Special attention is paid to the connected and disconnected susceptibilities, and their respective critical behavior. We show that both susceptibilities diverge at the critical point, and we demonstrate that this is compatible with the predicted scenario of random-field Ising universality.