COULOMBIC CRITICALITY IN GENERAL DIMENSIONS

Citation
Y. Levin et al., COULOMBIC CRITICALITY IN GENERAL DIMENSIONS, Physical review letters, 73(20), 1994, pp. 2716-2719
Citations number
39
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
ISSN journal
00319007
Volume
73
Issue
20
Year of publication
1994
Pages
2716 - 2719
Database
ISI
SICI code
0031-9007(1994)73:20<2716:CCIGD>2.0.ZU;2-I
Abstract
Debye-Huckel theory for spheres of diameter a with charges +/-q is ext ended to general dimension d. Explicit results include Bjerrum associa tion of +/- ions and the dipole-ionic solvation energy. For all d > 2 a critical point terminates conducting-liquid-conducting-vapor coexist ence: The critical density rho(c) = rho(c)a(d) falls with d SE arrow 2, but T-c = k(B)T(c)a(d-2)/q(2) rises. When d = 2, an insulating vap or appears for T less than or equal to 1/4 (the Kosterlitz-Thouless p oint), separated from conducting fluid by an infinite-order critical l ine ending at a tricritical point: rho(t) = rho(c)*(d --> 2) similar or equal to 0.004, T-t = T-c*(d --> 2) less than or similar to 1/4 fo r rho > rho(t)* the transition is first order.