Hard Hyperspheres Research Articles

Molecular dynamics study of six-dimensional hard hypersphere crystals.

Six-dimensional hard hypersphere systems in the A6, D6, and E6 crystalline phases have been studied using event-driven molecular dynamics simulations in periodic, skew cells that reflect the underlying lattices. In all the simulations, the systems had sufficient numbers of hyperspheres to capture the first coordination shells, and the larger simulations also included the complete second coordination shell. The equations of state, for densities spanning the fluid, metastable fluid, and solid regimes, were determined. Using molecular dynamics simulations with the hyperspheres tethered to lattice sites allowed the computation of the free energy for each of the crystal lattices relative to the fluid phase. From these free energies, the fluid-crystal coexistence region was determined for the E6, D6, and A6 lattices. Pair correlation functions for all the examined states were computed. Interestingly, for all the states examined, the pair correlation functions displayed neither a split second peak nor a shoulder in the second peak. These behaviors have been previously used as a signature of the freezing of the fluid phase for hard hyperspheres in two to five dimensions.

Fluid-solid demixing in four and five dimensional asymmetric binary hard hypersphere mixtures.

Additive asymmetric binary mixtures of hard hyperspheres in four and five dimensions are investigated by Monte Carlo simulations. These investigations probe systems with diameter ratios of 0.4 and 0.5 in which the larger hyperspheres are dominant at a mole fraction of 3/4. At the lower densities, the equations of state compare well with molecular dynamics data and a variety of theoretical predictions. When the mixture enters the metastable, two-phase regime, the smaller hyperspheres exhibit unusual phenomena as the system density increases. To understand this behavior, the mean-square displacement at equilibrium from initial lattice positions, the various pair correlation functions, and occupancy numbers are calculated. In addition, the characteristics of an initially demixed system are studied.

Equation of state for five-dimensional hyperspheres from the chemical-potential route.

We use the Percus-Yevick approach in the chemical-potential route to evaluate the equation of state of hard hyperspheres in five dimensions. The evaluation requires the derivation of an analytical expression for the contact value of the pair distribution function between particles of the bulk fluid and a solute particle with arbitrary size. The equation of state is compared with those obtained from the conventional virial and compressibility thermodynamic routes and the associated virial coefficients are computed. The pressure calculated from all routes is exact up to third density order, but it deviates with respect to simulation data as density increases, the compressibility and the chemical-potential routes exhibiting smaller deviations than the virial route. Accurate linear interpolations between the compressibility route and either the chemical-potential route or the virial one are constructed.

Comparison of classical and quantal calculations of helium three-body recombination.

A general method to study classical scattering in n-dimension is developed. Through classical trajectory calculations, the three-body recombination is computed as a function of the collision energy for helium atoms, as an example. Quantum calculations are also performed for the J(Π) = 0(+) symmetry of the three-body recombination rate in order to compare with the classical results, yielding good agreement for E ≳ 1 K. The classical threshold law is derived and numerically confirmed for the Newtonian three-body recombination rate. Finally, a relationship is found between the quantum and classical three-body hard hypersphere elastic cross sections which is analogous to the well-known shadow scattering in two-body collisions.

Precise algorithm to generate random sequential addition of hard hyperspheres at saturation

The study of the packing of hard hyperspheres in d-dimensional Euclidean space R^{d} has been a topic of great interest in statistical mechanics and condensed matter theory. While the densest known packings are ordered in sufficiently low dimensions, it has been suggested that in sufficiently large dimensions, the densest packings might be disordered. The random sequential addition (RSA) time-dependent packing process, in which congruent hard hyperspheres are randomly and sequentially placed into a system without interparticle overlap, is a useful packing model to study disorder in high dimensions. Of particular interest is the infinite-time saturation limit in which the available space for another sphere tends to zero. However, the associated saturation density has been determined in all previous investigations by extrapolating the density results for nearly saturated configurations to the saturation limit, which necessarily introduces numerical uncertainties. We have refined an algorithm devised by us [S. Torquato, O. U. Uche, and F. H. Stillinger, Phys. Rev. E 74, 061308 (2006)] to generate RSA packings of identical hyperspheres. The improved algorithm produce such packings that are guaranteed to contain no available space in a large simulation box using finite computational time with heretofore unattained precision and across the widest range of dimensions (2≤d≤8). We have also calculated the packing and covering densities, pair correlation function g(2)(r), and structure factor S(k) of the saturated RSA configurations. As the space dimension increases, we find that pair correlations markedly diminish, consistent with a recently proposed "decorrelation" principle, and the degree of "hyperuniformity" (suppression of infinite-wavelength density fluctuations) increases. We have also calculated the void exclusion probability in order to compute the so-called quantizer error of the RSA packings, which is related to the second moment of inertia of the average Voronoi cell. Our algorithm is easily generalizable to generate saturated RSA packings of nonspherical particles.

On the application of the Carnahan–Starling method for hard hyperspheres in several dimensions

The Carnahan–Starling (CS) method has been analysed for hard hyperspheres whose simulation data for the equation of state (EOS) are available at present ( D = 2 – 9 ). For lower dimensions ( D = 2 – 4 ) its strict application is successful and their purposes are fulfilled. On the other hand for remaining dimensions, the original procedure is not applicable as a whole. The obtained equations, the truncated virial equation and other equations have been compared with the simulation data whenever possible. The agreement is usually very satisfactory. In short, the proposed equations reproduce the behaviour of hard hyperspheres for low and moderate densities very well. • The Carnahan–Starling method has been applied to hard hyperspheres with available simulation data obtaining equations of state in each case. • The original method must be modified when negative virial coefficients are present. • The agreement with such simulation data is good as far as low and intermediate-range densities are concerned. • For high densities and dimensions, the lack of simulation data does not allow us to contrast any assumptions.

Phase transitions in four-dimensional binary hard hypersphere mixtures

Previous Monte Carlo investigations of binary hard hyperspheres in four-dimensional mixtures are extended to higher densities where the systems may solidify. The ratios of the diameters of the hyperspheres examined were 0.4, 0.5, and 0.6. Only the 0.4 system shows a clear two phase, solid-liquid transition and the larger component solidifies into a D4 crystal state. Its pair correlation function agrees with that of a one component fluid at an appropriately scaled density. The 0.5 systems exhibit states that are a mix of D4 and A4 regions. The 0.6 systems behave similarly to a jammed state rather than solidifying into a crystal. No demixing into two distinct fluid phases was observed for any of the simulations.

Monte Carlo study of four dimensional binary hard hypersphere mixtures

A multithreaded Monte Carlo code was used to study the properties of binary mixtures of hard hyperspheres in four dimensions. The ratios of the diameters of the hyperspheres examined were 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, and 0.8. Many total densities of the binary mixtures were investigated. The pair correlation functions and the equations of state were determined and compared with other simulation results and theoretical predictions. At lower diameter ratios the pair correlation functions of the mixture agree with the pair correlation function of a one component fluid at an appropriately scaled density. The theoretical results for the equation of state compare well to the Monte Carlo calculations for all but the highest densities studied.

Exact solution of the Percus-Yevick integral equation for fluid mixtures of hard hyperspheres

Structural and thermodynamic properties of multicomponent hard-sphere fluids at odd dimensions have recently been derived in the framework of the rational function approximation (RFA) [Rohrmann and Santos, Phys. Rev. E 83, 011201 (2011)]. It is demonstrated here that the RFA technique yields the exact solution of the Percus-Yevick (PY) closure to the Ornstein-Zernike (OZ) equation for binary mixtures at arbitrary odd dimensions. The proof relies mainly on the Fourier transforms c(ij)(k) of the direct correlation functions defined by the OZ relation. From the analysis of the poles of c(ij)(k) we show that the direct correlation functions evaluated by the RFA method vanish outside the hard core, as required by the PY theory.

Density functional for hard hyperspheres from a tensorial-diagrammatic series

We represent the free energy functional by a diagrammatic series with tensorial coefficients indexed by powers of the length scale. For hard cores, we obtain Percus's exact functional in one dimension and the Kierlik-Rosinberg form of fundamental measures theory in three dimensions. In five dimensions, the functional describes bulk fluids better than does the Percus-Yevick theory. At planar walls, density profiles oscillate with smaller periods than in lower dimensions. Our findings open up avenues for treating both more general high-dimensional systems and three-dimensional mixtures via dimensional reduction.

Fluid–fluid versus fluid–solid demixing in mixtures of parallel hard hypercubes

It is well known that increase of the spatial dimensionality enhances the fluid–fluiddemixing of a binary mixture of hard hyperspheres, i.e. the demixing occurs for lowermixture size asymmetry as compared to the three-dimensional case. However, according tosimulations, in the latter dimension the fluid–fluid demixing is metastable with respect tothe fluid–solid transition. According to the results obtained from approximations to theequation of state of hard hyperspheres in higher dimensions, the fluid–fluid demixing mightbecome stable for high enough dimension. However, this conclusion is rather speculativesince none of these works have taken into account the stability of the crystalline phase(by a minimization of a given density functional, by spinodal calculations or byMC simulations). Of course, the lack of results is justified by the difficulty ofperforming density functional calculations or simulations in high dimensions and, inparticular, for highly asymmetric binary mixtures. In the present work, we will takeadvantage of a well tested theoretical tool, namely the fundamental measuredensity functional theory for parallel hard hypercubes (in the continuum and in thehypercubic lattice). With this, we have calculated the fluid–fluid and fluid–solidspinodals for different spatial dimensions. We have obtained, no matter what thedimensionality, the mixture size asymmetry or the polydispersity (included as abimodal distribution function centered around the asymmetric edge lengths), thatthe fluid–fluid critical point is always located above the fluid–solid spinodal. Inconclusion, these results point to the existence of demixing between at least one solidphase rich in large particles and one fluid phase rich in small ones, preempting afluid–fluid demixing, independently of the spatial dimension or the polydispersity.

Fluid–solid transition in hard hypersphere systems

In this work we present a numerical study, based on molecular dynamics simulations, to estimate the freezing point of hard spheres and hypersphere systems in dimension D = 4, 5, 6, and 7. We have studied the changes of the radial distribution function (RDF) as a function of density in the coexistence region. We started our simulations from crystalline states with densities above the melting point, and moved down to densities in the liquid state below the freezing point. For all the examined dimensions (including D = 3), it was observed that the height of the first minimum of the RDF changes in an almost continuous way around the freezing density and resembles a second order phase transition. With these results we propose a numerical method to estimate the freezing point as a function of the dimension D using numerical fits and semiempirical approaches. We find that the estimated values of the freezing point are very close to the previously reported values from simulations and theoretical approaches up to D = 6, reinforcing the validity of the proposed method. This was also applied to numerical simulations for D = 7 giving new estimations of the freezing point for this dimensionality.

Multicomponent fluids of hard hyperspheres in odd dimensions

Mixtures of hard hyperspheres in odd-space dimensionalities are studied with an analytical approximation method. This technique is based on the so-called rational function approximation and provides a procedure for evaluating equations of state, structure factors, radial distribution functions, and direct correlation functions of additive mixtures of hard hyperspheres with any number of components and in arbitrary odd-dimension space. The method gives the exact solution of the Ornstein-Zernike equation coupled with the Percus-Yevick closure, thus, extending the solution for hard-sphere mixtures [J. L. Lebowitz, Phys. Rev. 133, A895 (1964)] to arbitrary odd dimensions. Explicit evaluations for binary mixtures in five dimensions are performed. The results are compared with computer simulations, and a good agreement is found.

Closed virial equations for hard parallel cubes andsquares

A correlation between maxima in virial coefficients (Bn), and “kissing” numbers for hard hyper-spheres up to dimension D = 5, indicates a virial equation and close-packing relationship. Known virial coefficients up to B7, both for hard parallel cubes and squares, indicate that the limiting differences Bn – Bn-1 behave similar to spheres and disks, in the respective expan-sions relative to maximum close packing. In all cases, the difference Bn – Bn-1 is approaching a negative constant with similar functional form in each dimen-sion. This observation enables closed-virial equa-tions-of-state for cubes and squares to be obtained. In both the 3D and 2D cases, the virial pressures begin to deviate from MD thermodynamic pressures at densities well below crystallization. These results consolidate the general conclusion, from previous papers on spheres and disks, that the Mayer cluster expansion cannot represent the thermodynamic fluid phases up to freezing as commonly assumed in statistical theories.

The fluid to solid phase transition of hard hyperspheres in four and five dimensions

Molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations are performed for four- and five-dimensional hard hyperspheres at a variety of densities, ranging from the fluid state to the solid regime of A(4), D(4), D(4)*, and D(5) lattices. The equation of state, the radial distribution functions, and the average number of hyperspheres in a coordination layer are determined. The equations of state are in excellent agreement with values obtained from both theoretical approaches and other simulations. The results for the average number of hyperspheres in a coordination layer are in agreement with the theoretical predictions for the different lattices. The radial distribution function gives better insight about the fluid to solid transition than the equation of state.

Solution of the Percus–Yevick equation for hard hyperspheres in even dimensions

We solve the Percus-Yevick equation in even dimensions by reducing it to a set of simple integrodifferential equations. This work generalizes an approach we developed previously for hard disks. We numerically obtain both the pair correlation function and the virial coefficients for a fluid of hyperspheres in dimensions d = 4, 6, and 8, and find good agreement with the available exact results and Monte Carlo simulations. This paper confirms the alternating character of the virial series for d > or = 6 and provides the first evidence for an alternating character for d = 4. Moreover, we show that this sign alternation is due to the existence of a branch point on the negative real axis. It is this branch point that determines the radius of convergence of the virial series, whose value we determine explicitly for d = 4, 6, 8. Our results complement, and are consistent with, a recent study in odd dimensions [R. D. Rohrmann et al., J. Chem. Phys. 129, 014510 (2008)].

Virial series for fluids of hard hyperspheres in odd dimensions

A recently derived method [R. D. Rohrmann and A. Santos, Phys. Rev. E 76, 051202 (2007)] to obtain the exact solution of the Percus-Yevick equation for a fluid of hard spheres in (odd) d dimensions is used to investigate the convergence properties of the resulting virial series. This is done both for the virial and compressibility routes, in which the virial coefficients B(j) are expressed in terms of the solution of a set of (d-1)/2 coupled algebraic equations which become nonlinear for d>/=5. Results have been derived up to d=13. A confirmation of the alternating character of the series for d>/=5, due to the existence of a branch point on the negative real axis, is found and the radius of convergence is explicitly determined for each dimension. The resulting scaled density per dimension 2eta(1/d), where eta is the packing fraction, is wholly consistent with the limiting value of 1 for d-->infinity. Finally, the values for B(j) predicted by the virial and compressibility routes in the Percus-Yevick approximation are compared with the known exact values [N. Clisby and B. M. McCoy, J. Stat. Phys. 122, 15 (2006)].

The equation of state of hard hyperspheres in nine dimensions for low to moderate densities

The equation of state of hard hyperspheres in nine dimensions is calculated both from the values of the first ten virial coefficients and from a Monte Carlo simulation of the pair correlation function at contact. The results are in excellent agreement. In addition, we find that the virial series appears to be dominated by an unphysical singularity or singularities on or near the negative density axis, in qualitative agreement with the recently solved Percus-Yevick equation of state in nine dimensions.

Structure of hard-hypersphere fluids in odd dimensions

The structural properties of single component fluids of hard hyperspheres in odd space dimensionalities d are studied with an analytical approximation method that generalizes the rational function approximation earlier introduced in the study of hard-sphere fluids [S. B. Yuste and A. Santos, Phys. Rev. A 43, 5418 (1991)]. The theory makes use of the exact form of the radial distribution function to first order in density and extends it to finite density by assuming a rational form for a function defined in Laplace space, the coefficients being determined by simple physical requirements. Fourier transform in terms of reverse Bessel polynomials constitute the mathematical framework of this approximation, from which an analytical expression for the static structure factor is obtained. In its most elementary form, the method recovers the solution of the Percus-Yevick closure to the Ornstein-Zernike equation for hyperspheres at odd dimensions. The present formalism allows one to go beyond by yielding solutions with thermodynamic consistency between the virial and compressibility routes to any desired equation of state. Excellent agreement with available computer simulation data at d=5 and d=7 is obtained.

Structure factor for hard hyperspheres in higher dimensions

The structure factor for hard hyperspheres in two to eight dimensions is computed by Fourier transforming the pair correlation function obtained by computer simulation at a variety of densities. The resulting structure factors are compared to the known Percus-Yevick equations for odd dimensions and to the model proposed by Leutheusser [J. Chem. Phys. 84, 1050 (1986)] and Rosenfeld [J. Chem. Phys. 87, 4865 (1987)] in even dimensions. It is found that there is fine agreement among all these approaches at low to moderate densities but that the accuracy of the analytical models breaks down as the freezing transition is approached. The structure factor gives another insight into the decrease in the ordering of the hyperspheres as the dimension is increased.