Paper detail

Double universality of the transition in the supercritical state

Universality aids consistent understanding of physical properties. This includes understanding the states of matter where a theory predicts how a property of a phase (solid, liquid, gas) changes with temperature or pressure. Here, we show that the matter above the critical point has a remarkable double universality not limited by pressure and temperature. The first universality is the transition between the liquidlike and gaslike states seen in the crossover of the specific heat on the dynamical length scale in deeply supercritical state and characterised by a fixed inversion point. The second universality is the operation of this effect in many supercritical fluids, including N$_2$, CO$_2$, Pb, H$_2$0 and Ar. Despite the differences in structure and chemical bonding in these fluids, the transition has the same fixed inversion point deep in the supercritical state. This provides new understanding of the supercritical state previously considered to be a featureless area on the phase diagram and a theoretical guide for improved and more efficient deployment of supercritical fluids in green and environmental applications.