External field effect on the critical behavior of the interface between fluid phases
- Rice Univ., Houston, TX (USA)
The equilibrium structure of the interface between fluid phases in d dimensions in the presence of an external field is investigated. The equilibrium interface is assumed to consist of an intrinsic interface which undergoes capillary-wave fluctuations. It is found that in two dimensions the interfacial thickness is very sensitive to the choice of external field and intrinsic interface. For an intrinsic interface of a thickness proportional to {xi}, the bulk correlation length, the exponent {omega}, which describes the divergence of the interfacial thickness as the critical point is approached, depends on the scale of the external field relative to {xi} and ranges from {omega} = 9/32 to {omega} = 17/32, in contrast to the prediction {omega} = 1 of scaling theory. When an intrinsic interface of vanishing thickness is chosen, {omega} = 9/32 for any external field. This is in strong contrast to the results in three or more dimensions, where {omega} is found to be independent of both the external field and the intrinsic interface and satisfies {mu} = (d-1) {omega}, with {mu} the critical exponent of the surface tension, in accord with scaling theory.
- OSTI ID:
- 5571680
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-880606-; CODEN: IJTHD
- Journal Information:
- International Journal of Thermophysics; (USA), Vol. 10:2; Conference: 10. symposium on thermophysical properties, Gaithersburg, MD (USA), 20-23 Jun 1988; ISSN 0195-928X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
CAPILLARY FLOW
FLOW MODELS
GASES
GRAVITATIONAL FIELDS
INTERFACES
THICKNESS
LIQUIDS
TWO-PHASE FLOW
CRITICAL PRESSURE
CRITICAL TEMPERATURE
EQUILIBRIUM
FOUR-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
SCALING LAWS
SURFACE TENSION
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
VAN DER WAALS FORCES
WAVE PROPAGATION
DIMENSIONS
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE
420400* - Engineering- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow