title: Toward a robust and general molecular simulation method for computing solid-liquid coexistence.
abstract: A rigorous and generally applicable method for computing solid-liquid coexistence is presented. The method overcomes some of the technical difficulties associated with other solid-liquid simulation procedures and can be implemented within either a molecular dynamics or Monte Carlo framework. The method consists of three steps: First, relative Gibbs free energy curves are created for the solid and liquid phases using histogram reweighting. Next, the free energy difference between the solid and liquid phases is evaluated at a single state point by integrating along a pseudosupercritical transformation path that connects the two phases. Using this result, the solid and liquid free energy curves are referenced to a common point, allowing a single coexistence point to be determined. Finally, Gibbs-Duhem integration is used to determine the full coexistence curve. To evaluate its utility, this method is applied to the Lennard-Jones and NaCl systems. Results for solid-liquid coexistence agree with previous calculations for these systems. In addition, it is shown that the NaCl model does not correctly describe solid-liquid coexistence at high pressures. An analysis of the accuracy of the method indicates that the results are most sensitive to the transformation free energy calculation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Eike
authors.forename: Joan F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Brennecke
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Maginn
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D044367:Phase Transition; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012996:Solutions; D012965:Sodium Chloride