Evidence concerning drying behavior of Ne near a Cs surface

Using density functional and Monte Carlo methods, we have studied the properties of Ne adsorbed on a Cs surface, focusing on the region at and near saturated vapor pressure (SVP). In the case of Ne/Rb, the experimental data of Hess, Sabatini, and Chan are consistent with the calculations based on an ab initio fluid-substrate potential, while in the Ne/Cs case there is indication that the potential is similar to9% too deep. In that case, the calculations yield partial drying behavior consistent with the experimental finding of depressed fluid density near the surface, above SVP. However, we find no evidence of a drying transition, a result consistent with the mean-field calculation of Ebner and Saam.