According to textbook definitions1, there exists no physical observable able to distinguish a liquid from a gas beyond the critical point, and hence only a single fluid phase is defined. There are, however, some thermophysical quantities, having maxima that define a line emanating from the critical point, named 'the Widom line'2 in the case of the constant-pressure specific heat. We determined the velocity of nanometric acoustic waves in supercritical fluid argon at high pressures by inelastic X-ray scattering and molecular dynamics simulations. Our study reveals a sharp transition on crossing the Widom line demonstrating how the supercritical region is actually divided into two regions that, although not connected by a first-order singularity, can be identified by different dynamical regimes: gas-like and liquid-like, reminiscent of the subcritical domains. These findings will pave the way to a deeper understanding of hot dense fluids, which are of paramount importance in fundamental and applied sciences.
The Widom line as the crossover between liquid-like and gas-like behaviour in supercritical fluids
Gorelli, F. A.;Santoro, M.;Scopigno, T.
2010
Abstract
According to textbook definitions1, there exists no physical observable able to distinguish a liquid from a gas beyond the critical point, and hence only a single fluid phase is defined. There are, however, some thermophysical quantities, having maxima that define a line emanating from the critical point, named 'the Widom line'2 in the case of the constant-pressure specific heat. We determined the velocity of nanometric acoustic waves in supercritical fluid argon at high pressures by inelastic X-ray scattering and molecular dynamics simulations. Our study reveals a sharp transition on crossing the Widom line demonstrating how the supercritical region is actually divided into two regions that, although not connected by a first-order singularity, can be identified by different dynamical regimes: gas-like and liquid-like, reminiscent of the subcritical domains. These findings will pave the way to a deeper understanding of hot dense fluids, which are of paramount importance in fundamental and applied sciences.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
---|---|---|---|
prod_40520-doc_34361.pdf
non disponibili
Descrizione: The Widom line as the crossover between liquid-like and gas-like behaviour in supercritical fluids
Dimensione
553.72 kB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
553.72 kB | Adobe PDF | Visualizza/Apri Richiedi una copia |
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.