Theory of Fluids, Phase Transitions, and Interfaces

本杰明·威多姆得到了理论和 计算化学计划，继续他的工作理论， 流体、相变和界面。 工作建议分三部分 具体研究领域。 在第一个研究领域，界面 结构和界面相变将在努力研究 为了理解非均匀接触区域的性质， 否则为均匀的流体相。 在这些研究中， 将使用它来阐明连接，并解决 两个不同的，有时不一致的点之间的差异， 自由能泛函理论和界面理论 位移理论 研究的第二个领域涉及共存 周期性调制的（液晶）相位，以及结构和 这些相之间的界面的热力学。 理论研究 将追踪各向同性流体中散射峰的演变， 在一个真正的δ函数布拉格中有一个初始的周期性 当流体经历二级转变到有序时， 液晶态。 第三个研究领域涉及使用 标度理论来开发带电的， 长链聚合物。 拟议中的研究将阐明 在聚合物的链长和所施加的电场之间。 在日常生活中，流体相之间的界面无处不在， 然而，人们对这座城市的结构细节知之甚少。 界面或界面上发生的过程。 Widom's 工作将提供分子水平的空间结构的见解， 这些接触区域的热力学。

Benjamin Widom is supported by a grant from the Theoretical and Computational Chemistry Program to continue his work on the theory of fluids, phase transitions and interfaces. Work is proposed in three specific areas of research. In the first area of study, interfacial structure and interfacial phase transitions will be studied in an effort to understand the nature of the inhomogeneous region of contact between otherwise homogeneous fluid phases. In these studies a theoretical model will be used which should illuminate the connection, and resolve the differences, between two alternative and sometimes discrepant points of view, that of free energy functional theory and that of an interface displacement theory. The second area of study involves the coexistence of periodically modulated (liquid crystal) phases, and the structure and thermodynamics of the interface between such phases. A theoretical study will trace the evolution of the scattering peak in the isotropic fluid in which there is an incipient periodicity into a true delta function Bragg peak as the fluid undergoes a second order transition to an ordered, liquid-crystalline state. The third area of research involves the use of scaling theory to develop a model for the electrophoresis of charged, long-chain polymers. The proposed study will elucidate the interplay between the chain length of the polymer and the applied electric field. In the everyday world, interfaces between fluid phases are ubiquitous, yet very little is known about the details of the structure of the interface or the processes which are going on at the interface. Widom's work will provide molecular level insights on the spatial structure and thermodynamics of those contact regions.