The nature of the phase transition in dipolar fluids

Tavares, J. M.; Weis, J. J.; da Gama, M. M. Telo

The nature of the phase transition in dipolar fluids

Authors

Tavares, J. M.

Weis, J. J.

da Gama, M. M. Telo

Description

Monte Carlo computer simulations of a quasi two dimensional (2D) dipolar fluid at low and intermediate densities indicate that the structure of the fluid is well described by an ideal mixture of self-assembling clusters. A detailed analysis of the topology of the clusters, of their internal energy and of their size (or mass) distributions further suggests that the system undergoes a phase transition from a dilute phase characterized by a number of disconnected clusters to a condensed phase characterized by a network or spanning (macroscopic) cluster that includes most of the particles in the system.
4 pages, 3 figures