Eur. Phys. J. E (2022) 45: 57
https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/s10189-022-00214-1

Regular Article - Flowing Matter

Study of brine–halite phase separation through optical constringence and molecular dynamics

¹ Physics Department, Federal University of Technology of Paran’a, Doutor Washington Subtil Chueire, 330, 84017-220, Ponta Grossa, PR, Brazil
² Department of Physics, State University of Ponta Grossa, Carlos Cavalcanti, 4748, 84030-900, Ponta Grossa, PR, Brazil

^d turchiel@utfpr.edu.br

Received: 6 May 2022
Accepted: 24 June 2022
Published online: 4 July 2022

Abstract

This work presents a study of the reciprocal dispersive power, also known as constringence or Abbe number of an aqueous solution of NaCl in a wide range of concentrations. The constringence exhibited a distinct behavior in the region close to the phase transition between a phase containing exclusively brine and a phase containing brine+halite. Molecular dynamics simulations of this system indicated the existence of halite formation below the known saturation curve, which agreed with the experimental measurements, indicating a crystal growth in the unsaturated region.