Radial Distribution Functions and the Equation of State of Monatomic Fluids

Abstract

An approximation is obtained for the radial distribution function in a fluid whose molecules interact with the Lennard-Jones potential. Calculations of the equation of state, the internal energy, and the compressibility are presented and compared with experiment. At temperatures and volumes higher than the critical, agreement with experiment is satisfactory. A systematic method is developed of modifying the theoretical radial distribution function so that calculated thermodynamic quantities agree with their experimental values. In the liquid phase, slight modifications are needed to obtain agreement with experiment.