Outline

Reading: Livingston, Chapter 3

Dielectric in an DC Electric Field

Dielectric in a Capacitor
Types of Polarization
Polarization: Microscopic to Macroscopic
Dielectric in an AC Electric Field
Relaxation Model
Resonance Model
Frequency Dependence of Dielectric Constant

Chapter 3

Dielectric (Insulator) in a DC Electric Field

Chapter 3

2
2

Capacitor: Dielectric (Insulator) in a DC Electric Field

Chapter 3

Types of Polarization
+ + +
+ + +

+
+

+
+

+
+

Chapter 3

Polarization: Microscopic to Macroscopic

+

Chapter 3

Example: Electronic Polarizability

The electronic polarizability of the Ar atom is 1.7 x
10-40 F-m2. What is the dielectric constant of solid
Ar (below 84K)?

Chapter 3

Capacitor: Dielectric (Conductor) in a AC Electric Field

dV
I C
dt

P oX ( r 1)

X Xo e it

P o ( r 1)Xo e it

dP
i o ( r 1)Xo e it
dt

Ideal Dielectric Matl:

Real Dielectric Matl:

Chapter 3

Relaxation Model: Orientational Polarization

+

Chapter 3

Relaxation Model: Orientational Polarization (cont.)

Chapter 3

Resonance Model: Electronic Polarization

+

d 2x
dx
Kx e X e Xo e i t
m 2 m
dt
dt

Chapter 3

10
10

Frequency Dependence of Dielectric Constant

Chapter 3

11

Lecture #3: Review Questions

1. What are the units of polarization?
2. How does a dielectric material act in a DC electric field? And, in an
AC electric field?
3. What are the units on the relative dielectric constant of a material?
What are the units on the dielectric constant?
4. Does the stored charge in a capacitor increase or decrease when a
dielectric material is inserted between the plates?
5. What are the units of capacitance?
6. What are the 5 types of polarization? Which one can respond to
optical frequencies?
7. What is the relaxation time of a dielectric material?
8. At what frequency is the maximum loss for a material with
electronic polarization?

Chapter 3

12

Important Equations
Q CV

r 1

P
1
oX

dV
I C
dt
1
E CV 2
2

r 1

N e

D X
p qd eX

P o ( r 1)Xo eit
( 0)
d ( ) d
d' i d"
1 i r
d'
d"

d ( 0)
1 2 r2
d ( 0)
r
1 2 r2

Chapter 3

xo

eXo r2 2 i

m r2

2 2

2 2

1/ 2

K
r
m

tan

d"
d'

13