Radial distribution function: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Lennard-Jones Radial Distribution Function.svg|thumb|300px|Radial distribution function for the [[Lennard–Jones potential|Lennard-Jones model fluid]] at <math>\scriptstyle T^* = 0.71, \; n^* = 0.844</math>.]]

In [[statistical mechanics]], the '''radial distribution function''', (or '''pair correlation function''') <math>g(r)</math> in a system of [[particles]] (atoms, molecules, colloids, etc.), describes how density varies as a function of distance from a reference particle.

If a given particle is taken to be at the origin O, and if <math>\rho =N/V</math> is the average number density of particles, then the local time-averaged density at a distance <math>r</math> from O is <math>\rho g(r)</math>. This simplified definition holds for a [[homogeneous]] and [[isotropic]] system. A more general case will be considered below.