Structural and response functions at equilibrium in path-integral quantum simple fluids

Abstract

A discussion on the physical meaning of the r-space structures that can be defined in path-integral quantum simple fluids far from exchange is presented by making the connection with their associated experimentally measurable properties in k-space (response functions). The role played in this issue by weak external fields acting on the fluid is examined by considering both the standard quantum treatment of neutron scattering and the path-integral functional analysis approach. For the sake of completeness, the same discussion is presented for the approximate Gaussian Feynman-Hibbs effective potential picture that can be derived from the path-integral, and also the structural interrelations between both formalisms are stated. To illustrate the points addressed in this paper results for liquid helium-4 at 4.2 K (SVP), obtained with the use of the Aziz-Slaman and the ab initio SAPT2 pair potentials, are reported.