title: A branch-point approximant for the equation of state of hard spheres.
abstract: Using the first seven known virial coefficients and forcing it to possess two branch-point singularities, a new equation of state for the hard-sphere fluid is proposed. This equation of state predicts accurate values of the higher virial coefficients, a radius of convergence smaller than the close-packing value, and it is as accurate as the rescaled virial expansion and better than the Pade [3/3] equations of state. Consequences regarding the convergence properties of the virial series and the use of similar equations of state for hard-core fluids in d dimensions are also pointed out.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Física, Universidad de Extremadura, E-06071 Badajoz, Spain. andres@unex.es
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: López de Haro