Comments on the interatomic potential for argon

Argon viscosity coefficients and second virial coefficients have been calculated for the potentials of Barker, Fisher and Watts, and of Parson, Siska and Lee. These potentials have strong physical foundations based on the representation of several microscopic properties of argon including recently measured cross-section data. An apparent slight discrepancy exists between the calculated and experimental values of the coefficients. The 11–6–8 potential is also discussed. This potential, which apparently gives a satisfactory correlation of the microscopic properties of argon, is shown to be insufficiently flexible to represent the cross-section data. © 1972 Taylor & Francis Ltd.