Vapor-liquid (insulator-metal) phase transition in alkali metal vapors

Abstract

A simple physical model is proposed that describes a vapor-liquid phase transition in alkali metal vapors. The model is based on an assumption made on the character of binding between atoms in the gas phase near the critical point. This is the collective quantum cohesive energy, well-known in the theory of liquid alkali metals, which arises due to the appearance of conduction electrons and is extended to the gas region near the critical point. The parameters of the critical points of the transition and of the binodal are determined on the basis of the model calculation of the binding energy for all alkali metals. Combined, these parameters well agree with experimental results and the predictions made by other authors. The minimum metallic conductivity is evaluated. Its behavior allows one to conclude that vapor-liquid and insulator-metal transitions in alkali metal vapors coincide. This fact sheds light on the Zel’dovich-Landau problem as applied to alkali metal vapors.