In 1955, Lifshitz used them as the microscopic description of the Casimir effect's bulk property for dielectric media.  The Lennard-Jones potential allows a good approximation of their strengths as a function of distance.  In
In 1955, Lifshitz used them as the microscopic description of the Casimir effect's bulk property for dielectric media.  The Lennard-Jones potential allows a good approximation of their strengths as a function of distance.  Including both Keesom and Debye forces, this class of intermolecular forces arises from the polarization of molecules into dipoles.  They share their name with an equation that corrects the ideal gas law and are sometimes called London dispersion forces.  FTP, name this set of intermolecular forces named after the Dutch scientist who received the 1910 Nobel Prize in physics.
In 1955, Lifshitz used them as the microscopic description of the Casimir effect's bulk property for dielectric media.  
van der Waals forces (prompt on London dispersion forces early)