Electronic edition ISSN 1574-0579

The radial distribution function and the structure factor of dipolar hard spheres

E. Elfimova , A. Ivanov

Urals State University, 51 Lenin Av., Ekaterinburg 620083, Russia

Abstract
The structure of a ferrocolloid suspension is studied theoretically. The system is modeled as a fluid of dipolar hard spheres, for which the zero-field radial distribution function and the structure factor are determined. The radial distribution function is calculated on the basis of a power-series expansion in terms of the ferroparticle concentration, retaining terms of up to the second order. The expansion coefficients are determined by diagrammatic analysis using p-particle cluster integrals. Dipole-dipole interparticle interactions are taken into account by expanding to the second order with respect to the dipolar coupling constant λ. The structure factor is calculated using a Fourier transform of the radial distribution function. Results are presented for different values of the dipolar coupling constant and ferroparticle concentration. Figs 5, Refs 8.