title: Variational methods for the solution of the Ornstein-Zernicke equation in inhomogeneous systems.
abstract: We show that the Ornstein-Zernicke equation and other equations of similar form obey a variational principle that can be used to derive approximate solutions. This method requires the use of an initial trial solution where the variational solution possesses a stationary "point" with respect to the trial solution when the latter is equal to the exact solution. We show that with even a very simple form of the trial solution the results are quite reasonable. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that by combining the variational method with an iterative expansion of the Ornstein-Zernicke equation it is possible to develop a self-consistent method of writing the direct correlation function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Paddison