Counterion correlations near charged surfaces: from the weak to the strong coupling regime

Abstract

A simple field theory approach is developed to model the properties of charged, dielectric bodies and their associated counterions. This predictive theory is able to accurately describe the properties of systems (as compared to computer simulation data) from the weak coupling limit, where the Poisson-Boltzmann theory works well, through to the strong coupling limit. In particular, it is able to quantitatively describe the attraction between like-charged plates and the influence of image charge interactions.