08-17U

Over the last fifteen years, the phase and critical behavior of ionic fluids have been intensively studied using experimental, theoretical as well as computer simulation methods. These studies were stimulated by controversial experimental results, demonstrating the three types of the critical behavior in ionic fluids: classical and Ising-like behavior as well as crossover between the two. A lot of efforts have been made to obtain the phase diagrams and calculate the locus of the gas-liquid critical point even for the simplest model of an ionic fluid \IeC {\textendash } the so-called restricted primitive model (RPM). Recent simulation studies have indicated that the critical behaviour of the RPM belongs to the Ising universality class. However, the investigation of more complex models is very important in understanding the nature of phase and critical behavior of real ionic fluids demonstratimg both the charge and size asymmetry as well as other complexities. We present the overview of the achievements obtained in the study of phase diagrams and criticality in systems with Coulomb interactions.