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Title: Analytic Solution of the Percus-Yevick Equation

Journal Article · · Journal of Mathematical Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1704158· OSTI ID:4011111

The properties of the Percus-Yevick approximate integral equation for the pair distribution function in classical statistical mechanics are examined for the class of pair potentials consisting of a hard core plus a short-range tail. For one -dimensional systems, some elementary theorems of complex variable applied to the Laplace-transformed equations enable the direct correlation function to be expressed in a very simple form, one which becomes explicit and trivial in the absence of a short-range tail. In the presence of the tail, the direct correlation function satisfies a (coupled) integral equation over a finite domain. The impossibility of a phase transition in one dimension is strongly indicated. Analysis of the case of three dimensions proceeds similarly, but is complicated by the appearance of essential parameters other than the density and compressibility. The character of the direct correlation function is qualitatively unchanged. Principal differences in three dimensions are that a phase transition is no longer prohibited, and the pair distribution function can not be reasonably expressed as a sum of nth-neighbor contributions.

Research Organization:
New York Univ., New York
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
NSA Number:
NSA-18-021029
OSTI ID:
4011111
Journal Information:
Journal of Mathematical Physics, Vol. 5, Issue 5; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-64; ISSN 0022-2488
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English