The Intrinsic Fragility of the Liquid-Vapor Interface: A StressNetwork Perspective

:the evolution of the liquid-vapor interface of a Lennard-Jonesfluidis examined with molecular dynamics simulations using the intrinsic samplingmethod. Results suggest clear damping of the intrinsic profiles with increasingtemperature. Investigating the surface stress distribution, we have identified a linearvariation of the space-filling nature (fractal dimension) of the stress clusters at theintrinsic surface with increasing surface tension or, equivalently, with decreasingtemperature. A percolation analysis of these stress networks indicates that the stressfield is more disjointed at higher temperatures. This leads to more fragile (or poorlyconnected) interfaces which result in a reduction in surface tension.