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Van der Waals Interactions

Van der Waals Interactions

Atoms and molecules interact with each other through intermolecular forces. These electrostatic forces arise from attractive or repulsive interactions between particles with permanent, partial, or temporary charges. The intermolecular forces between neutral atoms and molecules are ion–dipole, dipole–dipole, and dispersion forces, collectively known as van der Waals forces.

Van der Waals Equation

Van der Waals Equation

The ideal gas law is an approximation that works well at high temperatures and low pressures. The van der Waals equation of state (named after the Dutch physicist Johannes van der Waals, 1837−1923) improves it by considering two factors.
First, the attractive forces between molecules, which are stronger at higher densities and reduce the pressure, are considered by adding to the pressure a term equal to the square of the molar density multiplied by a positive coefficient a. Second, the volume...

UV–Vis Spectroscopy of Conjugated Systems

UV–Vis Spectroscopy of Conjugated Systems

Organic compounds with conjugated double bonds show strong absorption features in the UV–visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum attributed to π → π* electronic excitations. Generally, a UV–vis absorption spectrum is recorded as a plot of absorbance vs wavelength. The wavelength of maximum absorbance, which manifests as a peak in the absorption spectrum, is denoted as λmax.
One of the factors influencing λmax is the extent...

UV–Vis Spectroscopy: Woodward–Fieser Rules

UV–Vis Spectroscopy: Woodward–Fieser Rules

UV–Visible absorption spectra of conjugated dienes arise from the lowest energy π → π* transitions. The light-absorbing part of the molecule is called the chromophore, and the substituents directly attached to the chromophore are called auxochromes. A strong correlation exists between the absorption maxima, λmax, and the structure of a conjugated π system. The Woodward–Fieser rules predict the value of λmax for a given...

Real Gases: Effects of Intermolecular Forces and Molecular Volume Deriving Van der Waals Equation

Real Gases: Effects of Intermolecular Forces and Molecular Volume Deriving Van der Waals Equation

Thus far, the ideal gas law, PV = nRT, has been applied to a variety of different types of problems, ranging from reaction stoichiometry and empirical and molecular formula problems to determining the density and molar mass of a gas. However, the behavior of a gas is often non-ideal, meaning that the observed relationships between its pressure, volume, and temperature are not accurately described by the gas laws.

Interaction of EM Radiation with Matter: Spectroscopy

Interaction of EM Radiation with Matter: Spectroscopy

Electromagnetic (EM) radiation can be considered an oscillating electric and magnetic field propagating through a medium that can interact with matter in its path. The electric field in the radiation can interact with electrical charges in the atoms or molecules in the matter. On the other hand, the magnetic field can interact with the magnetic field in the atomic nucleus. The study of the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and matter is termed spectroscopy. Spectroscopy is the study...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 1, 2025

Demonstration of Spin-Multiplexed and Direction-Multiplexed All-Dielectric Visible Metaholograms

Demonstration of Spin-Multiplexed and Direction-Multiplexed All-Dielectric Visible Metaholograms

Published on: September 25, 2020

Near-Unity Light-Matter Interaction in Mid-Infrared van der Waals Metasurfaces.

Haonan Ling¹, Milad Nourbakhsh², Vincent R Whiteside³

¹Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States.

|March 7, 2024

Summary

We explored light interactions with hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) nanocavities, revealing strong, tunable resonances for mid-infrared applications. This work enables efficient, ultracompact nanostructures for enhanced light-matter control.

Keywords:

hBN metasurfaces mid-infrared thermal radiation van der Waals materials

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Last Updated: Jul 1, 2025

Demonstration of Spin-Multiplexed and Direction-Multiplexed All-Dielectric Visible Metaholograms

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Published on: September 25, 2020

Demonstration of Equal-Intensity Beam Generation by Dielectric Metasurfaces

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Published on: June 7, 2019

Fabricating van der Waals Heterostructures with Precise Rotational Alignment

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Published on: July 5, 2019

Area of Science:

Optics and Photonics
Materials Science
Condensed Matter Physics

Background:

Mid-infrared (MIR) radiation is crucial for thermal imaging, sensing, and radiative cooling.
Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) exhibits unique optical properties, including hyperbolic phonon-polaritons.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate light interaction with hBN nanocavities for MIR applications.
To demonstrate enhanced light-matter interactions in deep subwavelength hBN nanostructures.

Main Methods:

Experimental and theoretical examination of Fabry-Perot and Mie-like resonances in hBN nanocavities.
Characterization of light-matter interactions across the 7-8 μm range, utilizing hBN's high refractive index.

Main Results:

Strong and tunable resonances were observed across hBN's hyperbolic transition.
Enhanced light-matter interactions were achieved in deep subwavelength (<λ/15) nanostructures.
Near-unity absorption and high-quality (Q ≥ 80) resonances near the transverse optical phonon were detected.

Conclusions:

hBN nanocavities offer a pathway to design efficient, ultracompact structures for MIR radiation control.
The study highlights the potential of hBN for accessing strong light-matter interactions beyond conventional phonon-polaritons.