Evidence of an inverted temperature gradient during evaporation/condensation of a Lennard-Jones fluid

Abstract

Molecular dynamics simulations of the Lennard-Jones fluid have been performed to study the vapor flow between two liquid slabs kept at slightly different temperatures. For the first time, direct evidence is found of the onset of inverted gradient temperature profiles in the vapor. The simulations results also show good agreement with a kinetic theory analysis of the vapor phase flow field. © 2003 American Institute of Physics.