Statistical field theory for simple fluids: mean field and Gaussian approximations

Direct calculation of the functional inverse of realistic interatomic potentials in field-theoretic simulations

We discuss the functional inverse problem in field-theoretic simulations for realistic pairwise potentials such as the Morse potential (widely used in particle simulations as an alternative to the 12-6 Lennard-Jones one), and we propose the following two solutions: (a) a numerical one based on direct inversion on a regular grid or deconvolution and (b) an analytical one by expressing attractive and repulsive contributions to the Morse potential as higher-order derivatives of the Dirac delta function; the resulting system of ordinary differential equations in the saddle-point approximation is solved numerically with appropriate model-consistent boundary conditions using a Newton-Raphson method. For the first time, exponential-like, physically realistic pair interactions are analytically treated and incorporated into a field-theoretic framework. The advantages and disadvantages of the two approaches are discussed in detail in connection with numerical findings from test simulations for the radial distribution function of a monatomic fluid at realistic densities providing direct evidence for the capability of the analytical method to resolve structural features down to the Angstrom scale.

Field-theoretic simulations beyond δ-interactions: Overcoming the inverse potential problem in auxiliary field models

Modern field-theoretic simulations of complex fluids and polymers are constructed around a particle-to-field transformation that brings an inverse potential u^-1 in the model equations. This has restricted the application of the framework to systems characterized by relatively simple pairwise interatomic interactions; for example, excluded volume effects are treated through the use of δ-function interactions. In this study, we first review available nonbonded pair interactions in field-theoretic models and propose a classification. Then, we outline the inverse potential problem and present an alternative approach on the basis of a saddle-point approximation, enabling the use of a richer set of pair interaction functions. We test our approach by using as an example the Morse potential, which finds extensive applications in particle-based simulations, and we calibrate u^-1 with results from a molecular dynamics simulation. The u^-1 thus obtained is consistent with the field-theoretic model equations, and when used in stand-alone self-consistent field simulations, it produces the correct fluid structure starting from a random initial state of the density field.

Molecular fields and statistical field theory of fluids: Application to interface phenomena

Using the integral transformation, the field-theoretical Hamiltonian of the statistical field theory of fluids is obtained along with the microscopic expressions for the coefficients of the Hamiltonian. Applying this approach to the liquid-vapor interface, we derive an explicit analytical expression for the surface tension in terms of temperature, density, and parameters of the intermolecular potential. We also demonstrate that a clear physical interpretation may be given to the formal statistical field arising in the integral transformation-it may be associated with the one-body local microscopic potential. The results of the theory, lacking any ad hoc or fitting parameters are in good agreement with available simulation data.

Statistical field theory of ion–molecular solutions

Schematic representation of the multipolar molecule surrounded by salt ions in a dielectric solvent medium.

A diagrammatic analysis of the variational perturbation method for classical fluids

The statistical mechanics of classical fluids can be approached from the particle perspective, where the focus is on the various positions and interactions of the particles, and from the field perspective, where the focus is on the form of the interaction fields generated by the particles. In this work, we combine these two perspectives by examining the variational perturbation method for classical fluids, which has been widely used to describe nonuniform electrolyte systems. Most of this work has been for low orders of the approximation, it has been limited to cases where the electrostatic interactions are weak. We present an exact diagrammatic representation of the method, which greatly facilitates the enumeration and evaluation of higher order corrections to the free energy functional. This framework is able to encapsulate several different approximate theories. Performing a cumulant expansion, leads to the Debye-Hückel and higher order corrections. Including the contribution of chain diagrams leads to a theory closely related to the splitting theory [Hatlo and Lue, Europhys. Lett., 2010, 89, 25002], which has been shown to be accurate from the weak through to the strong coupling limits. Including all chain and ring diagrams leads to the hypernetted chain approximation; this is a more direct route to the conventional derivation, which also requires a renormalization of the Mayer f-bonds to the total correlation functions. These approximations to the variational perturbation method are applied to the classical one-component plasma in order to assess their relative accuracy and understand their relationship to each other. Strategies for developing improved approximations are discussed.

Ionic fluids: charge and density correlations near gas-liquid criticality

The correlation functions of an ionic fluid with charge and size asymmetry are studied within the framework of the random phase approximation. The results obtained for the charge-charge correlation function demonstrate that the second-moment Stillinger-Lovett (SL) rule is satisfied away from the gas-liquid critical point (CP) but not, in general, at the CP. However, in the special case of a model without size asymmetry the SL rules are satisfied even at the CP. The expressions for the density-density and charge-density correlation functions valid far from and close to the CP are obtained explicitly.