The Mathematical Basis for Molecular van der Waals Forces

Ridgway Scott
Departments of Computer Science and Mathematics
University of Chicago

Abstract

The electric force is the primary force in protein biology. We will clarify how the van der Waals force can be seen as an induced electric force. We derive a novel equation whose solution gives the asymptotic behavior of the London dispersion force that is one of the forces known as a van der Waals force. We discuss numerical techniques for solving equations of this type using standard finite element ideas.