DIELECTRIC & MAGNETIC MATERIALS

POLARIZATION AND ITS TYPE

THEORY

POLARIZABILITY:

The dipole moment per unit volume is defined as the polarization vector

P=
( ) =

Where,

is the total dipole moment.

Polarization vector:

The dipole moment per unit volume of the dielectric material is called
polarization vector.

If is the average dipole moment per molecule and N is the number of

molecules per unit volume then the Polarization vector P=N .

Electric flux density (D):

The flux density or electric displacement D at a point in a material is

given by D=r 0E.

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DIELECTRIC & MAGNETIC MATERIALS

POLARIZATION AND ITS TYPE

THEORY

Where E is the electric field strength, 0 is the dielectric constant and r

is relative permitivity of the material.

The 3 vectors D,E and P are related by the equation D= 0 E+P

P= 0 (r -1)E.

Dielectric constant (r ):

Dielectric constant (r ) is the ratio between the permitivity of the

medium and the permitivity of free space.
i.e.

r = / 0.

r has no units.
r =C1/C.

DIELECTRIC POLARIZATION:

Dielectric polarization is the term given to describe the behaviour of a

material when an external electric field is applied on it.

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DIELECTRIC & MAGNETIC MATERIALS

POLARIZATION AND ITS TYPE

THEORY

Dielectric polarization occurs when a dipole moment is formed in an

insulating material because of an externally applied electric field.

TYPES OF POLARIZATION:

1. ELECTRONIC / INDUCED POLARIZATION:

The Electric Polarization P is the dipole moment per unit volume

at a given point.

P = Np where p is the average dipole moment per molecule 1.

N is the number of molecules per unit volume.

Any molecule develops a dipole moment which is proportional

to the applied field. The induced electronic dipole moment is
proportional to the electric field applied to the atom

E
i.e

= e E
where

e is the polarizability (electronic).

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Pe = N

Pe = N

POLARIZATION AND ITS TYPE

As we know that

Pe = 0 (r -1 )E
0 (r -1 )E = N

Therefore,

e =

( )

Therefore it is given by the formula,

e = 4

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THEORY

DIELECTRIC & MAGNETIC MATERIALS

POLARIZATION AND ITS TYPE

THEORY

Orientational Polarization:

This polarization is exhibited by polar dielectric in the absence of

an external field the permanent dipole are randomly oriented
and the net magnetic moment of the dielectric is zero.

When an electric field is applied on the dielectric the molecular

dipoles tend to align themselves along the direction of the filed.
This result in a polarization of the dielectric called orientational
polarization.

When the external electric field is applied, the individual dipoles

experience a torque of moment
Were,

= E sin ()

= dipole moment

The dipole moment align themselves along the filed

The dipole moment can be given as

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DIELECTRIC & MAGNETIC MATERIALS

POLARIZATION AND ITS TYPE

THEORY

2 E
o

3KT

The orientational polarizability is given by,

Pe = No E
Pe

=N

2 E
3KT

Ionic Polarization:

In the absence of electric field,

The polarization of a given volume, however, is exactly zero because for
every dipole moment there is a neighboring one with exactly the same
magnitude, but opposite sign.

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DIELECTRIC & MAGNETIC MATERIALS

POLARIZATION AND ITS TYPE

THEORY

In an electric field, the ions feel forces in opposite directions. For a field
acting as shown, the lattice distorts a little bit
The Na+ ions moved a bit to the right, the Cl ions to the left.
The dipole moments between adjacent NaCl - pairs in field direction are
now different and there is a net dipole moment in a finite volume now.

The Na+ ions moved a bit to the right, the Cl ions to the left

The distance between the ions increases by d

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DIELECTRIC & MAGNETIC MATERIALS

POLARIZATION AND ITS TYPE

THEORY

Internal fields in solids

The total electric field at the site of the atom within the dielectric is
called the local field or the internal field.

It is also called the Lorentz field.

We have,

P=NEi

Ei=[ 0 (r -1)E]/N .

Ei=E+(P/ 0 ).

Claussius-Mosotti relation:

It gives the relation between the microscopic polarizability and the

macroscopic dielectric constant.

Clasius Mossotti equation is given by

(r -1)/( r +2)= N /3 0 .

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DIELECTRIC & MAGNETIC MATERIALS

POLARIZATION AND ITS TYPE

Dielectrics in alternating fields:

According to Maxwells theory of wave propagation

V=1/ .
C= 1/ 00.
Hence ,

C/V=n= r r.
If the materials are non-magnetic,

r=1
n= r( or) r =n2.

Then the Clasius Mossotti relation becomes

(n2-1)/( n2 +2)= N /3 0 .
This is known as Lorentz-Lorentz relation

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THEORY