Molecular Dynamics Simulation on Interface Characteristics of Micro Droplets

Liquid droplets of argon surrounded by the vapor for various temperatures have been simulated by the molecular dynamics method. Macroscopic characteristics of droplets such as density, pressure and temperature profiles are evaluated with emphasis on the temperature characteristics, which was usually regarded uniform in the surface region for an equilibrium liquid-vapor system. The 12-6 Lennard-Jones potential and periodic boundary conditions are employed in the 1000-particles three-dimensional simulation. What differs from the literatures is that the temperature in the surface region is not uniform, but exhibits a curve with two extrema. The peak and valley values are higher and lower than the bulk saturation temperature respectively. The magnitude of the peak and valley values becomes smaller when the saturation temperature is closer to the critical temperature.