Paola Gallo

Water and “the others”

Water is a complex system where computer science plays a crucial role. Classic computer molecular dynamics simulations in particular are pivotal to study the behavior of water and aqueous solutions under extreme conditions. Especially in the supercooled region that is to-date only partially accessed by experiments. I will show recent studies on water in solutions where computer simulations show results in line with experiments and produce further results in regions of the phase diagram not explored so far by experiments. I will focus on thermodynamics, slow dynamics and structure upon cooling for water in solutions with inorganic and organic solutes and on the differences with respect to the bulk. The results that I will discuss are of interest also: for outer planets science, in particular for the research about water on Mars and for water on the icy moons of Jupiter, and for cryobiology.