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 ∝ 1/ρ4. At the mid-plane of a narrow-cavity with conducting walls it decays more slowly being ∝ 1/ρ3. In a cavity the interaction can change from a longrange attraction to short-ranged repulsion. This circumstance gives rise to bound states wherein molecules can be trapped, while energy is transferred between the molecules.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 21-27 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Europhysics Letters |
Volume | 59 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2002 |