THE ELECTROSTATIC INTERACTION OF TWO ARBITRARY CHARGE DISTRIBUTIONS
Certain features of the interaction energy of two nonoverlapping but otherwise arbitarary charge distributions are examined. This problem arises in the study of Van der Waals interactions and in that application it is advantaneous to express the energy operator as a multipole expansion. Some speciai results which were given in this connection by Margenau are generalized. It is found possible to express the complete interaction as a sum of coupling terms between the multipole moments describing the two charge distributions. For this purpose the algebra of irreducible tensors is employed and in so doing the interaction energy can be expressed in very simple form and a relatively simple interpretation of the result can be obtained. Finally, a comparison of this result with that conventionally employed permits the deduction of an interesting type of addition (or displacement) theorem for solid spherical harmonics. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn'
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- NSA Number:
- NSA-13-003150
- OSTI ID:
- 4289326
- Journal Information:
- J. Math. and Phys., Journal Name: J. Math. and Phys. Vol. Vol: 37, No. 3
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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