Gas-liquid phase coexistence and finite-size effects in a two-dimensional Lennard-Jones system

The gas-liquid phase coexistence in a two-dimensional Lennard-Jones system is investigated using Maxwell construction method together with molecular dynamics simulations. The results of phase coexistence in different truncations of the potential are compared with data obtained from the literature, and the corresponding critical properties calculated. The crossover from Ising-like to mean field behavior is observed and confirmed as the temperature approaches the critical point from below. Performing simulations on systems with different sizes, we find that a finite size effect is more significant than those shown in most of the previous results, and a lower critical temperature is obtained when the full extent of this finite size effect is considered.