  The van der Waals coefficients for the alkali-metal atoms from Na to Fr
interacting in their ground states, are calculated using relativistic ab initio
methods. The accuracy of the calculations is estimated by also evaluating
atomic static electric dipole polarizabilities and coefficients for the
interaction of the atoms with a perfectly conducting wall. The results are in
excellent agreement with the latest data from ultra-cold collisions and from
studies of magnetic field induced Feshbach resonances in Na and Rb. For Cs we
provide critically needed data for ultra-cold collision studies.
