STRUCTURE OF A CONFINED FLUID OF HARD ELLIPSOIDS

The density profiles of a fluid of hard ellipsoids confined to a slit are studied by means of a theoretical approach proposed by one of the authors [1]. A density functional is used in which the possible orientations of the molecules are restricted and in which a geometric approximation is made for the direct correlation function of the homogeneous fluid. Results are obtained for a range of densities and for both oblate and prolate ellipsoids of revolution. Monte Carlo simulations of the same system have also been performed and are found to agree well with the theory within the range of parameters studied.