Generalized law of corresponding states for adsorbed gases

Abstract

The density-functional method is used to calculate a family of phase diagrams for atoms or molecules that form a $\sqrt{3}\times \sqrt{3}$ commensurate solid on substrates with the symmetry of graphite. The resulting phase diagrams are sensitive to variations in the strengths of the competing adsorbate-adsorbate and substrate-adsorbate interactions and may be useful in estimating these strengths. Appropriate diagrams are compared to the experimental data for Kr and ${\mathrm{N}}_2$ on graphite.