Journal of Statistical Physics, Vol. 99, Nos. 1/2, 2000. p. 273-312.
We propose a general formalism to study the static properties of a system composed of particles with nearest neighbor interactions that are located on the sites of a one-dimensional lattice confined by walls ("confined Takahashi lattice gas"). Linear recursion relations for generalized partition functions are derived, from which thermodynamic quantities, as well as density distributions and correlation functions of arbitrary order can be determined in the presence of an external potential. Explicit results for density profiles and pair correlations near a wall are presented for various situations. As a special case of the Takahashi model we consider in particular the hard rod lattice gas, for which a system of nonlinear coupled difference equations for the occupation probabilities has been presented by Robledo and Varea. A solution of these equations is given in terms of the solution of a system of independent linear equations. Moreover, for zero external potential in the hard-rod system we specify various central regions between the confining walls, where the occupation probabilities are constant and the correlation functions are translationally invariant in the canonical ensemble. In the grand canonical ensemble such regions do not exist.