Van der Waals forces in electrolyte solutions

In this article we study van der Waals forces in electrolyte solutions from a local point of view. It is shown for arbitrary geometry that the classical limit of the force density exerted on the ions, as found in the macroscopic theory of van der Waals forces, is identical with the force density calculated from electrostatics and thermodynamic fluctuation theory. Thus neither retardation, nor the Lorentz force affect the average force density.