Evidence of Double Criticality in a Fluid Model with Density-Dependent Interactions

Evidence of a liquid-liquid equilibrium in simple fluids has recently been exposed for a density-dependent pair potential in the framework of a van der Waals theory. Here this double criticality is investigated by means of computer simulation, a perturbation theory, and integral equation theory. It is found that the critical point estimated from the integral equation thermodynamics is not associated with divergent correlations. To cope with these features, a special simulation procedure, based on the definition of local densities, is devised. Monte Carlo calculations confirm the existence of two critical points, in agreement with the predictions of perturbation theory.