Structure factor

The structure factor, $S(k)$, for a monatomic system is defined by:

$S(k)=1+{\frac {4\pi \rho }{k}}\int _{0}^{\infty }(g_{2}(r)-1)r\sin(kr)~dr$

where $k$ is the scattering wave-vector modulus

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle k= |\mathbf{k}|= \frac{4 \pi }{\lambda \sin \left( \frac{\theta}{2}\right)}}

The structure factor is basically a Fourier transform of the pair distribution function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle {\rm g}(r)} ,

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle S(|\mathbf{k}|)= 1 + \rho \int \exp (i\mathbf{k}\cdot \mathbf{r}) \mathrm{g}(r) ~\mathrm{d}\mathbf{r}}

At zero wavenumber, i.e. Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle |\mathbf{k}|=0} ,

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle S(0) = k_BT \left. \frac{\partial \rho}{\partial p}\right\vert_T}

from which one can calculate the isothermal compressibility.

To calculate it in computer simulations one typically uses:

Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle S(k) = \frac{1}{N} \sum^{N}_{i,j=1} \left<exp(-i(r_i-r_j))\right> }

References

1. A. Filipponi, "The radial distribution function probed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy", J. Phys.: Condens. Matter, 6 pp. 8415-8427 (1994)