Theoretical characterization of the “ridge” in the supercritical region in the fluid phase diagram of water

Abstract

The density fluctuation of water in the supercritical region was investigated theoretically using the reference interaction site model theory combined with the Kovalenko-Hirata closure relation, the so-called RISM-KH theory. The density fluctuation was evaluated by the numerical differentiation of density with respect to pressure at constant temperature. The density fluctuations plotted against density show finite maxima along a line slightly off from the critical isochore, in accordance with experimental results. The microscopic structures of water on both regions that were separated by the line were investigated by analyzing the site-site radial distribution functions. The analysis clearly indicates that the structure is determined by the two effects featuring liquid states: the packing or volume exclusion effect and the screening of the Coulomb interaction or the hydrogen bond, both becoming more important at higher densities. An interplay of the two effects creates maxima of the density fluctuation in the supercritical region of water.