The local field inside a dielectric gas

Abstract

The Clausius–Mossotti relation is systematically in error for molecular gases. The dielectric constant is more adequately described in terms of an effective polarizability, which accounts for the interaction of a molecular dipole with itself through the surrounding molecules. These aspects of the local field problem of dielectric theory are discussed on the basis of a simple macroscopic model due to Onsager and Böttcher. The conclusions drawn from the model have been established by strictly microscopic arguments, however, and we briefly discuss the microscopic representations of the concepts used.