Linear and non-linear theories of solvation forces in fluids

From an exact expression for the free energy of a non-uniform classical fluid, due to Saam and Ebner, a closure is used to develop a non-linear theory for the density and solvation force between two planar walls. In the linear limit these expressions reduce to ones used successfully elsewhere. Numerical solution of the equations for a hard sphere fluid shows that while the density profiles predicted by the two theories are markedly different, the solvation forces are similar.