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Proof of pressure of system in molecular dynamics

Physics Asked on March 18, 2021

I am studying barostatting algorithms, and I am seeing this equation quite a bit:
$$ PV = frac{1}{3}left[ sum _i left( sum _{i<j} F_{ij} cdot r_{ij} right)+ frac{|p_i|^2}{m_i}right]$$ as seen here and here and here.

I am wondering about the proof of this equation. This equation looks an awful lot like the virial theorem, which states that
$$2langle T rangle = – leftlangle sum_i F_i cdot r_i rightrangle $$

However, I don’t see how we get to thermodynamic pressure from the above equation in the way they have written it above. I can see that average kinetic energy $$langle T rangle = frac{3}{2}Nk_BT$$

That is all I know about how to delve into proving the statement for PV I have mentioned up above.

How do I go about proving it? I appreciate any advice you have for me.

2 Answers

I try to proof this from virial theorem.

$$2langle T rangle = - leftlangle sum_i vec{F}_i cdot vec{r}_i rightrangle $$

I classify the force into (a) interaction force between constituent molecules, and (b) force from the container.

Apparently, the pressure will come from the second category. Let investigate (b) first:

Force from the container occurs for $vec{r}_k$ at the container surface. Where the gas exerts pressure $P$ to the surface perpendicular to the surface $ P dvec{A}$, therefore the surface also renders a same force but in opposite direction $dvec{F} = - P dvec{A}$. This force contributes to the virial term:

$$ sum_{r_k text{ at surface}} vec{F}_k cdot vec{r}_k =- P sum_{r_k text{ at surface}} dvec{A}_k cdot vec{r}_k = -P unicode{x222f}_A dvec{A} cdot vec{r}. $$

We then turn the surface integral into volume integral by Divergent Theorem: $$ unicode{x222f}_A vec{V} cdot dvec{A} = iiint vecnablacdotvec{V} d^3 r$$

We then have: $$ sum_{r_k text{ at surface}} vec{F}_k cdot vec{r}_k = -P iiint vecnablacdotvec{r} d^3r = -3 P iiint d^3r = -3 P V. $$

Then the interaction term:

$$ vec{F}_{ij}cdot vec{r}_i + vec{F}_{ji}cdot vec{r}_i = vec{F}_{ij}cdot left( vec{r}_i - vec{r}_j right) = vec{F}_{ij}cdot vec{r}_{ij}. $$

All together, we have:

$$ - 3 p V + sum_i sum_{jne i} vec{F}_{ij}cdot vec{r}_{ij} + sum_i frac{p_i^2}{m_i} = 0 PV = frac{1}{3} left{ sum_i sum_{jne i} vec{F}_{ij}cdot vec{r}_{ij} + sum_i frac{p_i^2}{m_i} right} $$

Correct answer by ytlu on March 18, 2021

I am not aware of a derivation for this using Virial Theorem (I don't think you can derive the exact equation using Virial theorem, not that I have tried it), but I know of a derivation using standard ensemble theory.

Please take a look at this paper: 'On the calculation of specific heats, thermal pressure coefficients and compressibilities in molecular dynamics simulations', P. S. Y. CheungMol. Phys., 33:519–526, 1977

This paper is used as a preliminary on stimulating Molecular Dynamics using Monte Carlo or some other technique, and I was satisfied by that derivation.

Let me know whether this suits your need.

Answered by TheImperfectCrazy on March 18, 2021

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