Effective pair potentials for liquid Na and liquid K

Abstract

Recent x‐ray structure data has been used to generate effective pair potentials for liquid sodium and liquid potassium. This is done on the basis of three current theories (Percus‐Yevick, hypernetted chain, and Born‐Green) which relate the effective pair potential to the radial distribution function. Qualitatively, all the three pair potentials have similar features. Contrary to the recent suggestion of Howells and Enderby, the Born‐Green theory seems to be equally applicable to liquid metals.