Statistical mechanics of linear molecules II: Density expansions, intermolecular potentials and virial coefficients

Abstract

In the Percus-Yevick and convolution-hypernetted-chain equations obtained in the previous paper, a density expansion for the correlation functions is introduced. To first order in the density, the so-obtained equations are identical and exact. By solving these, the pair correlation functions for linear molecules are obtained explicitly to first order in the density and for arbitrary order in the potential perturbation expansion. From these, the second and third virial coefficients can be extracted for all orders. A generalized charge is defined and used to give generalized multipole expansions for the intermolecular potential. Explicit expressions for this potential model are given up to fourth order. It is shown how the correlation functions, and second and third virial coefficients can be obtained to fourth order for any intermolecular potential with the same perturbation structure.