Workshop "Atomistic modelling of soft matter and nanostructures"

On Friday, June 28, workshop "Atomistic modelling of soft matter and nanostructures" was held. Professor Nikolay Piezjev gave a talk "Molecular origin of surface tension at liquid-vapor interfaces".

In this presentation, the effect of surface tension at liquid-vapor interfaces will be discussed. We will consider a flat liquid-vapor interface at thermodynamic equilibrium and estimate the pressure-stress tensor in the interfacial layer. Further, the surface tension coefficient will be computed for monatomic liquid using the molecular dynamics simulation method. The dependence of the results will be examined as a function of the temperature, density, system size, and details of the interaction potential. Finally, a few examples where the surface tension forces are important will be considered; namely, soap bubbles, the shape of liquid droplets at solid surfaces, and survival of water striders.