Finiteness effects in computer simulation of fluids with spherical boundary conditions

Abstract
After a summary of definitions and some fundamental considerations concerning the definition of density with spherical boundary conditions (SBC), we give a detailed derivation of the finiteness behaviour of potential energy, pressure, and heat capacity. To fit the corresponding expansions, Monte Carlo simulations for a Lennard-Jones fluid with SBC have been carried out for different numbers of particles. Extrapolation to the thermodynamic limit shows excellent agreement with literature.