  The quantum path integral/classical liquid-state theory of Chandler and
co-workers, created to describe an excess electron in solvent, is re-examined
for the hydrated electron. The portion that models electron-water density
correlations is replaced by two equations: the range optimized random phase
approximation (RO-RPA), and the DRL approximation to the "two-chain" equation,
both shown previously to describe accurately the static structure and
thermodynamics of strongly charged polyelectrolyte solutions. The static
equilibrium properties of the hydrated electron are analyzed using five
different electron-water pseudopotentials. The theory is then compared with
data from mixed quantum/classical Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics
simulations using these same pseudopotentials. It is found that the predictions
of the RO-RPA and DRL-based polaron theories are similar and improve upon
previous theory, with values for almost all properties analyzed in reasonable
quantitative agreement with the available simulation data. Also, it is found
using the Larsen, Glover and Schwartz pseudopotential that the theories give
values for the solvation free energy that are at least three times larger than
that from experiment.
