The correlation functions of hard-sphere chain fluids: Comparison of the Wertheim integral equation theory with the Monte Carlo simulation

Abstract

The correlation functions of homonuclear hard‐sphere chain fluids are studied using the Wertheim integral equation theory for associating fluids and the Monte Carlo simulation method. The molecular model used in the simulations is the freely jointed hard‐sphere chain with spheres that are tangentially connected. In the Wertheim theory, such a chain molecule is described by sticky hard spheres with two independent attraction sites on the surface of each sphere. The OZ‐like equation for this associating fluid is analytically solved using the polymer‐PY closure and by imposing a single bonding condition. By equating the mean chain length of this associating hard sphere fluid to the fixed length of the hard‐sphere chains used in simulation, we find that the correlation functions for the chain fluids are accurately predicted. From the Wertheim theory we also obtain predictions for the overall correlation functions that include intramolecular correlations. In addition, the results for the average intermolecular correlation functions from the Wertheim theory and from the Chiew theory are compared with simulation results, and the differences between these theories are discussed.