Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026

An Analog Macroscopic Technique for Studying Molecular Hydrodynamic Processes in Dense Gases and Liquids
Published on: December 4, 2017
Information-theory-based solution of the inverse problem in classical statistical mechanics
Marco D'Alessandro1, Francesco Cilloco
1Institute for Complex Systems, Rome, Italy.
This study introduces a novel method to determine interaction potentials using radial distribution functions and inverse Monte Carlo simulations. The approach accurately extracts potentials for dense fluids with minimal computational cost.
Area of Science:
- Statistical Mechanics
- Computational Physics
- Information Theory
Background:
- Determining interatomic potentials is crucial for understanding fluid behavior.
- Existing methods can be computationally intensive or lack accuracy.
- Radial pair distribution functions provide insights into particle arrangements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a procedure for deriving interaction potentials from radial pair distribution functions.
- To implement this procedure within an inverse Monte Carlo simulation framework.
- To assess the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing the maximum entropy principle from information theory.
- Integrating the method into an inverse Monte Carlo simulation scheme.
- Deriving the interaction potential as an asymptotic expression of transition probability.
Main Results:
- Successfully determined interaction potentials for high-density monoatomic fluids.
- Achieved accurate potential extraction.
- Demonstrated a modest computational effort required for the procedure.
Conclusions:
- The presented procedure offers an accurate and efficient way to determine interaction potentials.
- The method is particularly effective for high-density monoatomic fluids.
- This work contributes to advancing simulation techniques in statistical mechanics.
Related Concept Videos
Maxwell's Thermodynamic Relations
All thermodynamic potentials are exact differentials. Therefore, their second-order...
First Law Of Thermodynamics: Problem-Solving
The following strategies can be used to solve any problem involving the first law of thermodynamics.
Second Law of Thermodynamics
Second Law of Thermodynamics
Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution: Problem Solving
This distribution function f(v) is defined by saying that the expected number N (v1,v2) of particles with speeds between v1 and v2 is given by
The Entropy as a State Function

