dipole-dipole interaction

dipole-dipole interaction [¦dī‚pōl ¦dī‚pōl ‚in·tər ′ak·shən]

(atomic physics)

The interaction of two atoms, molecules, or nuclei by means of their electric or magnetic dipole moments. The interaction energy depends on the strength and relative orientation of the two dipoles, as well as on the distance between the centers and the orientation of the radius vector connecting the centers with respect to the dipole vectors.

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Dipole-dipole interaction

The interaction of two atoms, molecules, or nuclei by means of their electric or magnetic dipole moments. This is the first term of the multipole-multipole series of invariants. More precisely, the interaction occurs when one dipole is placed in the field of another dipole. The interaction energy depends on the strength and relative orientation of the two dipoles, as well as on the distance between the centers and the orientation of the radius vector connecting the centers with respect to the dipole vectors. The electric dipole-dipole interaction and magnetic dipole-dipole interaction must be distinguished.

The center of the negative charge distribution of a molecule may fail to coincide with its center of gravity, thus creating a dipole moment. An example is the water molecule. If such molecules are close together, there will be a (electric) dipole-dipole interaction between them. Atoms do not have permanent dipole moments, but a dipole moment may be induced by the presence of another atom nearby; this is called the induced dipole-dipole interaction. Induced dipole-dipole forces between atoms and molecules are known by many different names: van der Waals forces, London forces, or dispersion forces. These induced dipole-dipole forces are responsible for cohesion and surface tension in liquids. They also act between unlike molecules, resulting in the adsorption of atoms on macroscopic objects. See Cohesion (physics), Intermolecular forces, Van der Waals equation

The magnetic dipole-dipole interaction is found both on a macroscopic and on a microscopic scale. Two compass needles within reasonable proximity of each other illustrate clearly the influence of the dipole-dipole interaction. In quantum mechanics, the magnetic moment is partially due to a current arising from the motion of the electrons in their orbits, and partially due to the intrinsic moment of the spin. The same interaction exists between nuclear spins. Magnetic dipole-dipole forces are particularly important in low-temperature solid-state physics, the interaction between the spins of the ions in paramagnetic salts being a crucial element in the use of such salts as thermometers and as cooling substances. See Adiabatic demagnetization, Dipole, Electron, Low-temperature thermometry, Magnet, Magnetic thermometer, Nuclear moments