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.