Phase coexistence properties of liquid mercury: a simulation study

The thermophysical properties of expanded liquid mercury have been investigated along the liquid-vapor coexistence curve by using Monte Carlo and Molecular Dynamic simulations. For the purpose, an empirical state dependent interatomic potential for the region of dense metallic liquid is used, while the state dependence is not necessary near the critical point. In order to test the validity of this potential, we determine the surface layering and the sound velocity, two properties very sensitive to the choice of the potential. Our results are in quite good agreement with other theoretical results and to the experimental data available in the literature.