The entropy of the hard-core model is analyzed subject to dimension, system size and particle density. Inspired by the exactly solvable one-dimensional case and the results from a virial expansion, we suggest a scaling relation for the two-dimensional and three-dimensional case. These relations are compared with numerical results, obtained by a modified Widom’s particle insertion method. The notion of finite size effects, relevant for atomic glass-forming systems, is discussed in the context of the present results.

• Received 18 May 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.82.021502