Simplified calculation of quantum corrections to the virial coefficients of hard convex bodies

Abstract

We discuss a simple model—an excluded-volume effect—to calculate the quantum corrections to the virial coefficients of hard convex bodies. Comparison with known results for d-dimensional spheres shows that the first-order terms in λ/σ are given exactly for all virial coefficients in all dimensions, and the terms in (λ/σ)² within 10–20% for all known cases, where λ is the thermal deBroglie wavelength and σ is the diameter. The model can be applied straightforwardly to mixtures and to nonspherical bodies.