Hysteretic effects in the first-order irreversible phase transition of the ZGB model

Abstract

The first-order irreversible phase transition (FOIPT) of the ZGB model [Ziff, Gulari, Barshad, Phys. Rev. Lett. 56 (1986) 2553] for the catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide is studied numerically by using the constant-coverage (CC) ensemble. The CC method allows us to study hysteretic effects close to coexistence, as well as the location of the coexistence point. Also, evidence that the FOIPT exhibits a condensation/evaporation pseudo-transition (in finite samples), as observed in its reversible counterparts, is presented and discussed.