The van der Waals Interactions of Concentric Nanotubes

Other conference contribution, 2002

Concentric nanotubes are stabilized by a competition between the short-range repulsion and the long-range van der Waals binding. At the relevant binding distances (3.4 Ångström) we find that traditional first-principle density-functional theory (DFT) calculations can only par- tially account for these combined interactions and that an accurate quantum-physics account of structure and dynamics must also include a calculation of the van der Waals forces. We use a successful model of the electrodynamical response of the nanotube electron gas to provide such a combined description in which we reflect the important self-consistent screening effects arising within the nanotube electron gases. Our description differs significantly from traditional asymptotic calculations of the van der Waals interactions. Work supported by the Carl Tryggers Foundation, W. and M. Lundgren Foundation, the Swedish Research Council (VR), and the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF).