The interaction of adsorbed molecules

Abstract
The dispersion interaction between two atoms in the presence of a plane continuum dielectric substrate is calculated using Lifshitz theory. If the atoms are in a plane parallel to the substrate, the effect of the latter is to renormalize the Hamaker constant. This renormalization affects the two dimensional van der Waals gas critical temperature used in adsorption calculations. It is strongly dependent on the distance of the adsorbate molecules from the surface.