Work

Asymptotics of the Dispersion Interaction: Analytic Benchmarks for van der Waals Energy Functionals

Year: 2006

Type: article

Abstract: We show that the usual sum of R-6 contributions from elements separated by distance R can give qualitatively wrong results for the electromagnetically nonretarded van der Waals interaction between nonoverlapping bodies. This occurs for anisotropic nanostructures that have a zero electronic energy gap, such as metallic nanotubes or nanowires, and nanolayered systems including metals and graphene planes. In all these cases our analytic microscopic calculations give an interaction falling off with a power of separation different from the conventional value. We discuss implications for van der Waals energy functionals. The new nanotube interaction might be directly observable at submicron separations.

Source: Physical Review Letters

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.96.073201

Authors: John F. Dobson, Angela White, Angel Rubio

Institutions: Griffith University, École Polytechnique, Donostia International Physics Center, University of the Basque Country

Language: English

Topic: Quantum Electrodynamics and Casimir Effect

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Australian Research Council

Award: Hydrogen Absorption by Nanostructured Carbons