Monte Carlo simulations of the critical properties of the restricted primitive model

TL;DR

This paper reports Monte Carlo simulations of the critical point of the restricted primitive model for ionic solutions, confirming Ising universality class exponents and highlighting an anomaly in specific heat scaling.

Contribution

It provides the first finite size scaling analysis of the continuum restricted primitive model's critical behavior using Monte Carlo simulations.

Findings

Critical exponents agree with 3D Ising universality class

An anomaly observed in the scaling of specific heat with system size

Finite size scaling analysis confirms universality class

Abstract

Recent Monte Carlo simulations of the critical point of the restricted primitive model for ionic solutions are reported. Only the continuum version of the model is considered. A finite size scaling analysis based in the Bruce-Wilding procedure gives critical exponents in agreement with those of the three-dimensional Ising universality class. An anomaly in the scaling of the specific heat with system size is pointed out.