Liquid-state theory and the renormalization group reconciled: a theory of phase transitions in fluids

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Abstract
The hierarchical reference theory (HRT) is a unified theory of fluids: in the dense regime it has the accuracy typical of a good theory of the liquid state. At the same time, close to a critical point, it develops the structure of a renormalization group theory in which all non-universal quantities can be deduced from knowledge of the interatomic interaction. The HRT can be applied above as well as below the critical temperature so that the phase diagram, thermodynamic properties and distribution functions are obtained in a unified way. Similar information can be extracted also from models of binary mixtures. In this case, the HRT allows for the determination of the order parameter along lines of critical points and provides an explanation of the strange crossover phenomena found in mixtures.