Statistical mechanics of dense ionized matter. I. Equilibrium properties of the classical one-component plasma

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1973 · Phys. Rev., A, v. 8, no. 6, pp. 3096-3109

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.8.3096· OSTI ID:4325429

Hansen, J P

The equilibrium properties of a classical one-component plasma, in a uniform background of opposite charge, are computed for systems of various sizes by the Monte Carlo method of Metropolis et al. Following the work of Brush, Sahlin, and Telier, the periodicity of the system is accounted for by replacing the long-range Coulomb potential by an effective Ewald sum. Thermodynamic properties are computed over the whole density range of the fluid phase of the system, and their N dependence is carefully investigated. A semiempirical equation of state is proposed from which all thermodynamic properties can be easily derived. Quantum corrections to these properties are calculated to first order in the Wigner expansion. Radial distribution functions, direct-correlation functions, and structure factors at various densities are tabulated. It is shown that at all densities, the direct-correlation function tends rapidly towards its Debye-Huckel form, in contrast to the radial distribution function. The behavior of the structure factor at small wave vectors is also shown to be in good agreement with the Debye-Huckel predictions at all densities.

• Research Organization: Laboratoire de Physique Theorique et Hautes Energies, Orsay, France
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-29-021786
• OSTI ID: 4325429
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev., A, v. 8, no. 6, pp. 3096-3109, Journal Name: Phys. Rev., A, v. 8, no. 6, pp. 3096-3109; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*NEUTRON STARS-- EQUATIONS OF STATE
*PLASMA-- THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
*WHITE DWARF STARS-- EQUATIONS OF STATE
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
DENSITY
FLUIDS
MANY-BODY PROBLEM
MONTE CARLO METHOD
STATISTICAL MECHANICS