Molecular resonance interaction in channels

Department of Applied Mathematics, Research School of Physical Sciences The Australian National University - Canberra, Australia 0200

Received: 7 January 2002
Accepted: 4 April 2002

Abstract

A theory is presented for the retarded resonance interaction between two identical molecules in an excited configuration in channels with dielectric, or ideal metallic walls. The boundaries have a strong influence on the interaction. For dielectric walls this is illustrated numerically, for metallic walls analytically. Near a single metallic surface and in free space the long-range retarded interaction is . At the mid-plane of a narrow cavity with conducting walls it decays more slowly being . In a cavity the interaction can change from a long-range attraction to short-ranged repulsion. This circumstance gives rise to bound states wherein molecules can be trapped, while energy is transferred between the molecules.