Polarization (electrostatics)

In electrostatics, the polarization (or electric polarization) is the vector field that results from permanent or induced electric dipole moments in a dielectric material. The polarization vector P is defined as the dipole moment per unit volume.

Related Topics:
Electrostatics - Vector field - Dipole - Dielectric

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In a homogeneous linear and isotropic dielectric medium, the polarization is aligned with and proportional to the electric field E. In an anisotropic material, the polarization and the field are not necessarily in the same direction. Then, the ith component of the polarization is related to the jth component of the electric field according to:

Related Topics:
Homogeneous - Isotropic - Dielectric - Proportional

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:P_i = sum_j epsilon_0 chi_{ij} E_j , ,!

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where ε0 is the permittivity of free space, and χ is the electric susceptibility tensor of the medium.

Related Topics:
Permittivity - Electric susceptibility - Tensor

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If the polarization P is not proportional to the electric field E, the medium is termed nonlinear and is described by the field of nonlinear optics. If the direction of P is not aligned with E, as in many crystals, the medium is anisotropic and is described by crystal optics.

Related Topics:
Nonlinear optics - Crystal - Crystal optics

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