SYMMETRY PROPERTIES OF INTEGRAL EQUATIONS IN THEORY OF CLASSICAL FLUIDS

The functional formalism described in a preceding paper, leads to a great number of integral equations for molecular distribution functions. Some of them have a certain symmetry property which, in the case of the pair distribution function includes symmetry with respect to the permutation of particles. This symmetry condition is necessary for any self consistent approximation. Among all integral equations known to date only the PY and the HNC equations satisfy this condition. In this paper we derive some new symmetric equations. Integral equations which are obtained with the help of the Percus method, involving n-particle distribution functions (n > 2), cannot be symmetric with respect to the interchange of particles. © 1968 Springer-Verlag.