Variable sphere molecular model for inverse power law and Lennard-Jones potentials in Monte Carlo simulations

Abstract

The variable sphere (VS) molecular model for the Monte Carlo simulation of rarefield gas flow is introduced to provide consistency for diffusion and viscosity cross-sections with those of any realistic intermolecular potential. It is then applied to the inverse power law (IPL) and Lennard-Jones (LJ) potentials. The VS model has a much simpler scattering law than either the variable hard sphere (VHS) or variable soft sphere (VSS) models; also, it has almost the same computational efficiency as the VHS and VSS models. A simulation of velocity relaxation in a homogeneous space and two comparative simulations of molecular diffusion in a homogeneous heat-bath gas and normal shock wave structure in a monatomic gas are made to examine VS model validity. The relaxation to a Maxwellian distribution function and equipartition between all degrees of freedom are well established; good agreement is shown in the molecular diffusion and shock wave structure between the VS model and the IPL and LJ potentials. The VS model is combined with the statistical inelastic cross-section (SICS) model and applied to simulation of translational and rotational energy relaxation in a homogeneous space. The VS model shows the relaxation of Maxwellian and Boltzmann distribution functions and equipartition between all degrees of freedom. Comparative calculation between the VS model with the SICS (VS-SICS) model and the VSS model with the SICS (VSS-SICS) model is made for rotational relaxation in a nitrogen normal shock wave. Good agreement is shown in the shock wave structure and rotational energy distribution function between the VS-SICS model and the VSS-SICS model. This study demonstrates that diffusion and viscosity cross-sections, rather than the scattering law of each molecular collision, affect macroscopic transport phenomena. © 2002 American Institute of Physics.