Radial distribution function
In statistical mechanics, the radial distribution function, (or pair correlation function) in a system of particles (atoms, molecules, colloids, etc.), describes how density varies as a function of distance from a reference particle.
If a given particle is taken to be at the origin O, and if is the average number density of particles, then the local time-averaged density at a distance from O is . This simplified definition holds for a homogeneous and isotropic system. A more general case will be considered below.
In simplest terms it is a measure of the probability of finding a particle at a distance of away from a given reference particle, relative to that for an ideal gas. The general algorithm involves determining how many particles are within a distance of r and r+dr away from a particle. This general theme is depicted to the right, where the red particle is our reference particle, and blue particles are those which are within the circular shell, dotted in orange.