Simulation of Transport around the Coexistence Region of a Binary Fluid

TL;DR

This paper uses Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations to analyze phase behavior and transport properties, especially bulk viscosity, in a symmetric binary fluid near the critical point, revealing critical enhancements far above it.

Contribution

It provides a detailed simulation-based analysis of critical transport behavior in binary fluids, emphasizing finite-size scaling and critical singularities.

Findings

Critical enhancements in transport properties are visible well above the critical point.

Finite-size scaling effectively captures critical behavior.

Bulk viscosity exhibits significant critical singularity.

Abstract

We use Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations to study phase behavior and transport properties in a symmetric binary fluid where particles interact via Lennard-Jones potential. Our results for the critical behavior of collective transport properties, with particular emphasis on bulk viscosity, is understood via appropriate application of finite-size scaling technique. It appears that the critical enhancements in these quantities are visible far above the critical point. This result is consistent with an earlier report from computer simulations where, however, the authors do not quantify the critical singularity.