Triplet correlation function in strongly coupled three- and two-dimensional classical one-component plasmas

Abstract

The triplet correlation function in the strongly coupled classical one-component plasmas in three and two dimensions is obtained by Monte Carlo numerical experiments and compared with the values given by the Kirkwood superposition approximation and the convolution approximation. The superposition approximation works well when two particles are closer than the first peak distance of the pair distribution function, and the convolution approximation works well when three particles are nearly aligned with separations larger than the first peak distance. The equilateral triangle configuration of particles mutually separated by the first peak distance is overestimated by the superposition approximation, while the convolution approximation shows no trace of this structure.