title: Behavior of the Widom line in critical phenomena.
abstract: Using linear scaling theory, we study the behavior of response functions extrema in the vicinity of the critical point. We investigate how the speed of convergence of the loci of response function extrema to the Widom line depends on the parameters of the linear scaling theory. We find that when the slope of the coexistence line is near zero, the line of specific heat maxima does not follow the Widom line but instead follows the coexistence line. This has relevance for the detection of liquid-liquid critical points, which can exhibit a near-horizontal coexistence line. Our theoretical predictions are confirmed by computer simulations of a family of spherically symmetric potentials.
authors.affiliation: Center for Polymer Studies and Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Jiayuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: International Center for Quantum Materials, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China and Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, Beijing 100871, China.
authors.forename: Limei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Center for Polymer Studies and Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lascaris
authors.affiliation: Center for Polymer Studies and Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
authors.forename: H Eugene
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.affiliation: Center for Polymer Studies and Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA and Department of Physics, Yeshiva University, 500 West 185th Street, New York, New York 10033, USA.
authors.forename: Sergey V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Buldyrev