REVIEW ON THE THEORY OF THE DIELECTRIC-DISPERSION OF INSULATORS

The theory of the dielectric dispersion of insulators is reviewed with special emphasis on the infrared and submillimeter-wave spectral regions. The concepts of linear response, causality, local field, correlation, etc., are described with a uniform advanced mathematical formalism which gives insight into the merits and disadvantages of the present models. The models and formulas presented are supplemented by experimental data.