Some remarks on the theory of the dielectric constant of non-polar dense gases

Abstract

It is pointed out that the usual simple theory of the dielectric constant in isotropic nonpolar media, based on a model with constant polarizability and with dipolar interaction between atoms, is consistent only if the atoms are assumed to have a hard core, so that they cannot approach each other too closely.

The expansion of the dielectric constant in powers of the polarizability α is obtained in a simple way. The two-particle contribution to the deviation S (α, ρ, T) from the law of Clausius-Mossotti is summed to all orders in α and in particular the term of S (α, ρ, T) linear in the denity ρ is discussed.