Comparison of Lennard-Jones and Exponential-Six Pair Potentials for Solid Argon at Low Pressure*

Monte Carlo calculations of thermodynamic properties for solid argon are carried out using both the Lennard‐Jones and the exponential‐six pair potentials. When quantum corrections are taken into account the calculated energies and pressures derived from the Lennard‐Jones potential agree better with experiment. Neither pair potential successfully reproduces the experimental elastic constants.