Computer Simulation of Charge Separation in Vapor–Gas Mixtures

The interaction between counterions in water vapor is modeled by the Monte-Carlo method. A material contact of a system with vapor is modeled using a large canonical statistical ensemble. A powerful minimum, which forms in the medium-strength interaction potential at the expense of pulling molecules into the ion–ion gap, leads to separation of charges and stabilization of ions at distances that are much greater than the thickness of hydration shells of the ions. Spatial charge separation dramatically inhibits recombination and leads to accumulation of nonrecombined ion pairs. The discovered effect is of universal nature and explains some important atmospheric phenomena and results of electrometric laboratory experiments in moist air.