Dispersion interactions between optically anisotropic cylinders at all separations: Retardation effects for insulating and semiconducting single-wall carbon

Abstract

We derive the complete form of the van der Waals dispersion interaction between two infinitely long anisotropic semiconducting/insulating thin cylinders at all separations. The derivation is based on the general theory of dispersion interactions between anisotropic media as formulated in Munday et al. [Phys. Rev. A 71, 042102 (2005)]. This formulation is then used to calculate the dispersion interactions between a pair of single-walled carbon nanotubes at all separations and all angles. Nonretarded and retarded forms of the interactions are developed separately. The possibility of repulsive dispersion interactions and nonmonotonic dispersion interactions is discussed within the framework of the formulation.