Working at the Lifshitz level, we investigate the van der Waals interactions across a series of layers with a periodic motif. We derive the complete form of the van der Waals interaction as an explicit function of the number of periodic layers. We then compare our result with an approximation based on an anisotropic-continuum representation of the stratified medium. Satisfactory agreement betwe...

The potential stability of van der Waals complexes M−H2 (M = Li, Be, B, C, Na, Mg, Al, Si) is assessed using quadratic configuration interaction and large basis sets. It is found that the alkali metals and alkaline earths form very weak complexes in their ground states, but much stronger complexes in their (p) excited states. The elements B, Al, C, and Si form both linear (C∞v) and perpendicula...

the presence of van der waals (vdw) force can lead to mechanical instability in freestanding nano-scale actuators. most of the previous researches in this area have exclusively focused on modeling the instability in actuators with one actuating components. while, less attention has been paid to actuators consist of two actuating components. herein, the effect of the vdw force on the instability...

Experiments are reviewed in which key problems in chemical dynamics are probed by experiments based on photodetachment and/or photoexcitation of negative ions. Examples include transition state spectroscopy of biomolecular reactions, spectroscopy of open shell van der Waals complexes, photodissociation of free radicals, and time-resolved dynamics in clusters. The experimental methods used in th...

The problem of designing an atom interferometer with optimum sensitivity to de Broglie wave phase shifts is revisited. Because van der Waals interactions affect how efficiently material gratings work as beam splitters, we find the optimum open fraction for each of the gratings in a three-grating Mach Zehnder atom interferometer depends on the van der Waals interaction strength as well as the at...

The physics of operation of nanotube NEMS devices is reviewed. Special attention is paid to non-classical effects, rarely described in MEMS analysis, such as van der Waals/Casimir interactions, quantum effects in electrostatics, atomistic parameterization of elasticity. As an example of a breakdown of a classical MEMS theory, the NEMS scaling limitation is derived in a lump model taking into ac...

A mathematical derivation of an analytical expression is presented to evaluate the van der Waals interaction between a sphere and a cylindrical rod. This expression then is applied to study the growth of one-dimensional nanostructures, such as nanorods, using a common growth mechanism in colloidal chemistry, the oriented attachment growth mechanism. Parameters associated with the dimensions and...

The assembly of individual two-dimensional materials into van der Waals heterostructures enables the construction of layered three-dimensional materials with desirable electronic and optical properties. A core problem in the fabrication of these structures is the formation of clean interfaces between the individual two-dimensional materials which would affect device performance. We present here...

The rise of 2D materials made it possible to form heterostructures held together by weak interplanar van der Waals interactions. Within such van der Waals heterostructures, the occurrence of 2D periodic potentials significantly modifies the electronic structure of single sheets within the stack, therefore modulating the material properties. However, these periodic potentials are determined by t...