ISSN:
1572-9613
Keywords:
Cluster expansion
;
virial coefficients
;
dielectric constant
;
polarizability
;
suspension
;
shape dependence
;
absolute convergence
;
Clausius-Mossotti formula
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
Abstract We derive a cluster expansion for the electric susceptibility kernel of a dielectric suspension of spherically symmetric inclusions in a uniform background. This also leads to a cluster expansion for the effective dielectric constant. It is shown that the cluster integrals of any order are absolutely convergent, so that the dielectric constant is well defined and independent of the shape of the sample in the limit of a large system. We compare with virial expansions derived earlier in statistical mechanics for the dielectric constant of a nonpolar gas. In these expansions the virial coefficients are given by integrals which are only conditionally convergent.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01011628
Permalink
