Strongly dipolar fluids: a theoretical and computational challenge Original Research Article

We propose a simple statistical mechanical theory for a strongly dipolar fluid at low densities, based on the analogy between a system of polydisperse polymer chains and the equilibrium structure of these fluids as shown by computer simulation. Both steric and dipolar interactions between long chains are weak at low densities and as a result the dipolar fluid, in this regime, is well described as an ideal gas of polydisperse chains. We further investigate how the residual dipolar interaction between monomers and attractive Van der Waals interactions between particles may cause dissociation of the chains and condensation of the dipolar fluid.