Density functional approach to the structure of homogeneous colloidal dispersion

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Abstract
We employ a simple density functional approach to predict the radial distribution and other structure related functions for a model homogeneous colloidal dispersion. The scheme is based on an interconnection, first pointed out by Percus, between the density of an inhomogeneous fluid in the field of an external potential and the radial distribution function of the corresponding uniform fluid, if the external potential is chosen as the pair potential itself. The two-particle direct correlation function of the homogeneous colloidal dispersion which is required as input is taken from the rescaled mean spherical approximation for particles interacting via screened Coulomb potential. Both perturbative and nonperturbative weighted density approaches are employed and the calculated quantities are shown to agree well with results from other sources.