We used molecular dynamics simulation of a neat two-dimensional Lennard-Jones fluid to examine how the
distribution of local densities found around an atom varies as the critical point is approached. Through this
analysis, we discovered that mean local density enhancements arise as a necessary and direct consequence of
the long-range density inhomogeneities present in such fluids, thereby establishing a relationship between
the local and long-length-scale phenomena. Additionally, we uncovered a second, “potential-induced”
mechanism which generates mean local density enhancements at low bulk densities. The competition between
these two mechanisms of local density enhancement formation enables us to explain why these enhancements
are not maximized at the critical density, as well as to explain how the location of this maximum will depend
on intrinsic experimental parameters such as the size of the local region and the strength of the solute−solvent potential interaction.
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