Solvation forces in simple dense fluids. I

Abstract

The grand canonical ensemble Monte Carlo method is used to calculate the density profile of a simple dense liquid, under conditions close to the vapor line, between two solid bodies and also the solvation force between the solids due to the simple fluid. The force is large compared with the van der Waals force at moderate surface separations, h, but is an oscillatory function of h. At small values of h the solvation force is strongly repulsive.