Path-Integral Calculation of the Second Dielectric and Refractivity Virial Coefficients of Helium, Neon, and Argon

Published

August 6, 2020

Author(s)

Giovanni Garberoglio, Allan H. Harvey

Abstract

We present a method to calculate dielectric and refractivity virial coefficients using the path-integral Monte Carlo formulation of quantum statistical mechanics and validate it by comparing our results with equivalent calculations in the literature and with more traditional quantum calculations based on wavefunctions. We use state-of-the-art pair potentials and polarizabilities to calculate the second dielectric and refractivity virial coefficients of helium (both 3He and 4He), neon (both 20Ne and 22Ne), and argon. Our calculations extend to temperatures as low as 1 K for helium, 4 K for neon, and 50 K for argon. We estimate the contributions to the uncertainty of the calculated dielectric virial coefficients for helium and argon, finding that the uncertainty of the pair polarizability is by far the greatest contribution. Agreement with the limited experimental data available is generally good, but our results have smaller uncertainties, especially for helium. Our approach can be generalized in a straightforward manner to higher-order coefficients.

Citation

Journal of Research (NIST JRES) -

Volume

125

NIST Pub Series

Journal of Research (NIST JRES)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/jres.125.022

Local Download

Keywords

argon, dielectric virials, helium, neon, path-integral Monte Carlo, pressure, refractivity virials, thermometry

Citation

Garberoglio, G. and Harvey, A. (2020), Path-Integral Calculation of the Second Dielectric and Refractivity Virial Coefficients of Helium, Neon, and Argon, Journal of Research (NIST JRES), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/jres.125.022, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=930010 (Accessed May 9, 2025)