Radial distribution function

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In computational mechanics, a radial distribution function, g(r), describes an average density as a function of radius normalized by the average density. Considering an atom to be located at its center, for an amorphous solid with atoms of radius σ the density of particles for radii r<2 σ will be g(r) = 0. All particles touching that particle will be at radius 2σ. As r increases, though, g(r) will converge on 1 because at a distance any adjacency effects will go to zero.

Given an energy potential function, the energy of a volume can be determined from the radial distribution function.