Electrostatic interaction near the interface between dielectric media taking into account the nonlocality of the Coulomb field screening

Asymptotics for the electrostatic interaction energy between two point charges or dipoles located on a flat insulating (solid or liquid) surface or at the interface between two dielectric media were calculated analytically in the case of distances between the objects. Vertical and planar dipole alignments were considered. The spatial dispersion of the dielectric permittivities was taken into account, which resulted in a significant reduction of interaction in comparison with the classical case. The results were discussed in connection with the patterns exhibited by colloid particles on the liquid surface and at the interface between immiscible liquids. The presented theory can also be applied to the explanation of molecular patterns observed on the surfaces of solid insulators.