Dispersion contributions to surface energy

Abstract

The concept of dispersion self‐energy of a molecule or atom of finite size in an inhomogeneous dielectric medium is developed. The self‐energy, which is always finite and its dependence on distance from an interface dividing two media, is evaluated. The surface energy of the interface is obtained in terms of the self‐energies of all the molecules of the medium. The resulting expression is shown to reduce in suitable approximation to forms similar to those derived by Fowkes and by Craig.