Chapter 1
Introduction
Van der Waals complexes. Well-known, that all atoms and molecules can interact
together to form either a new molecule or a molecular cluster [1–10]. Sometimes
say that such molecular clusters are defined by noncovalent interactions or by van
der Waals (vdW) interactions. In this book the term Van der Waals complexes (or
clusters) will be used both to a transient collisional complex and to a weakly bound
van der Waals molecule. Note that their electric and mechanical properties are not
the simple sum of similar properties of components forming them. Other characteristic feature of the van der Waals complexes is their nonrigid structure [1, 2]. As
dissociation energy of the van der Waals complexes is much lower of the dissociation energy for usual molecules, such complexes are easily broken up. For this
reason, the quantity of the van der Waals complexes in a gas under normal conditions is rather insignificant. However, being present in all gases, the complexes
appreciably influence on their properties and take part in all physical and chemical
processes of gas media (atmospheres of Earth and other planets, interstellar medium
and so on). Furthermore, weakly bound molecular complexes are of great importance for studying the nature of nonbonding interactions that play an important role
in many fields of chemistry and solid state physics. Nonbonding interactions of
p-systems control structures and properties of organic molecules in condensed
phase form molecular associates in fluids and play a key role in biomolecules such
as nucleic acids, proteins, DNA and RNA [4–6]. As a result, the van der Waals
complexes are intensively studied in the last decades. And in the book some aspects
of electrical properties of van der Waals complexes, which are not delighted enough
in scientific literature, are discussed.
Classification of intermolecular interactions. In this small book the two-body
interactions, which are the strongest, are only considered for study the electrical
properties of van der Waals complexes. Particularities of many-body interactions
may be found, for example, in [11, 12]. Usually, the intermolecular interactions,
the physical nature of which is electromagnetic one, are classified according to the
distance R between interacting molecules (or atoms). They are the long-range
interactions when the interaction energy has a form U $ 1=R
n and the short-range
© The Author(s) 2017
V.N. Cherepanov et al., Interaction-induced Electric Properties of van der Waals Complexes,
SpringerBriefs in Electrical and Magnetic Properties of Atoms, Molecules, and Clusters,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-49032-8_1
1
Introduction
Van der Waals complexes. Well-known, that all atoms and molecules can interact
together to form either a new molecule or a molecular cluster [1–10]. Sometimes
say that such molecular clusters are defined by noncovalent interactions or by van
der Waals (vdW) interactions. In this book the term Van der Waals complexes (or
clusters) will be used both to a transient collisional complex and to a weakly bound
van der Waals molecule. Note that their electric and mechanical properties are not
the simple sum of similar properties of components forming them. Other characteristic feature of the van der Waals complexes is their nonrigid structure [1, 2]. As
dissociation energy of the van der Waals complexes is much lower of the dissociation energy for usual molecules, such complexes are easily broken up. For this
reason, the quantity of the van der Waals complexes in a gas under normal conditions is rather insignificant. However, being present in all gases, the complexes
appreciably influence on their properties and take part in all physical and chemical
processes of gas media (atmospheres of Earth and other planets, interstellar medium
and so on). Furthermore, weakly bound molecular complexes are of great importance for studying the nature of nonbonding interactions that play an important role
in many fields of chemistry and solid state physics. Nonbonding interactions of
p-systems control structures and properties of organic molecules in condensed
phase form molecular associates in fluids and play a key role in biomolecules such
as nucleic acids, proteins, DNA and RNA [4–6]. As a result, the van der Waals
complexes are intensively studied in the last decades. And in the book some aspects
of electrical properties of van der Waals complexes, which are not delighted enough
in scientific literature, are discussed.
Classification of intermolecular interactions. In this small book the two-body
interactions, which are the strongest, are only considered for study the electrical
properties of van der Waals complexes. Particularities of many-body interactions
may be found, for example, in [11, 12]. Usually, the intermolecular interactions,
the physical nature of which is electromagnetic one, are classified according to the
distance R between interacting molecules (or atoms). They are the long-range
interactions when the interaction energy has a form U $ 1=R
n and the short-range
© The Author(s) 2017
V.N. Cherepanov et al., Interaction-induced Electric Properties of van der Waals Complexes,
SpringerBriefs in Electrical and Magnetic Properties of Atoms, Molecules, and Clusters,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-49032-8_1
1