Structure and pressure of a hard sphere fluid in a wedge-shaped cell or meniscus

Simulations of hard spheres in a wedge-shaped cell are reported. There is a tendency for the spheres near the vertex to have a solidlike structure and for those further from the vertex to have a fluidlike structure. The simul ation density profiles exhibit discontinuities that are characteristic of s tructural changes in the fluid. Also, the density profile and pressure on t he walls of the cell are computed by means of an integral equation. The pre ssure is large near the vertex and oscillates as the distance from the vert ex increases or as the angular variable changes. The asymptotic value of th e pressure is the bulk hard sphere pressure.