Molecular Distribution Functions and Thermodynamics

Abstract

This chapter summarizes the most important relations between thermodynamic quantities and molecular distribution functions (MDF). The majority of these relations apply to systems obeying the assumption of pairwise additivity for the total potential energy. We shall indicate, however, how to modify the relations when higher-order potentials are to be incorporated in the formal theory. In general, higher-order potentials bring in higher-order MDF’s. Since very little is known about the analytical behavior of the latter, such relationships are rarely useful in applications.