Multi-particle critical correlations

Abstract

We study the role of multi-particle spatial correlations in the appearance of a liquid-vapour critical point. Our analysis is based on the exact infinite hierarchy of equations relating spatial integrals of $(k+1)$-particle correlations to the $k$-particle ones and their derivatives with respect to the density. Critical exponents corresponding to generalized compressibility equations resulting from the hierarchy are shown to grow linearly with the order of correlations. We prove that the critical behaviour requires taking into account correlation functions of arbitrary order. It is however only a necessary condition. Indeed, approximate closures of the hierarchy obtained by expressing higher order correlations in terms of lower order ones (Kirkwood's superposition approximation and its generalizations) turn out to be inconsistent with the critical behaviour.