Self-diffusion and structural properties of confined fluids in dynamic coexistence

Abstract

Self-diffusion and radial distribution functions are studied in a strongly confined Lennard-Jones fluid. Surprisingly, in the solid-liquid phase transition region, where the system exhibits dynamic coexistence, the self-diffusion constants are shown to present up to three-fold variations from solid to liquid phases at fixed temperature, while the radial distribution function corresponding to both the liquid and the solid phases are essentially indistinguishable.