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Abstract

This thesis presents a review of the theories currently being used to describe the structure of the liquid-vapor interface. The fluids considered are those consisting of "argon-like" molecules, which have radially symmetric potentials. "Wall effects" upon the interface are assumed to be negligible. The derivations of several theories have been recast into forms which depend upon a few common principles. The technique of functional differentiation is extensively used in this regard. This allows each theory to be identified with one of three different approaches: mean-field theory, integro-differential equations, or fluctuation theory. Good agreement is found between the results of theories within each class. The three approaches are shown to be different aspects of a single consistent model of the liquid-vapor interface.