Dielectric Anisotropy in Ice Ih

Abstract

The complex dielectric constants parallel and normal to the optical axis in ice Ih single crystal were measured in a wide range of the temperature (0°∼−150°C). The static dielectric constant of the Debye component at each temperature was obtained by extrapolating on the Cole-Cole plot to zero frequency. Dielectric anisotropy agreed well that of Humbel et al. at high temperatures, and it increased with decreasing temperature.
The static dielectric constant ε_s^⁄⁄ followed a Curie-Weiss law where T₀ was 46 K and its Curie-Weiss constant C_⁄⁄ was 2.25×10⁴ K, while ε_s^⊥ obeyed a Curie law where Curie constant C_⊥ was 2.37×10⁴ K. These results strongly suggest the anisotropy in dipole-dipole interaction and the possibility of the ordering phase transition at low temperatures. The anisotropy of the dielectric relaxation time was very small in all temperature range. The mechanism of the dielectric anisotropy is discussed.