Determination of the Radial Distribution Function and the Direct Correlation Function of Spheres by X-Ray Small-Angle Scattering

An experimental determination of the pair and direct correlation functions of polystyrene latex spheres in the high-density limit has been made. From these the pair potential for hard spheres has been calculated. The significance of the functions as they bear on the Percus—Vevick and the hypernetted chain approximation is discussed.