Introduction to Electrodynamics · Problem 4.3

Electric Fields in Matter — David J. Griffiths

Physics · induced-dipoles-atomic-polarizability

Problem

According to Eq. 4.1, the induced dipole moment of an atom is proportional to the external field. This is a ``rule of thumb,'' not a fundamental law, and it is easy to concoct exceptions—in theory. Suppose, for example, the charge density of the electron cloud were proportional to the distance from the center, out to a radius RR. To what power of EE would pp be proportional in that case? Find the condition on ρ(r)\rho(r) such that Eq. 4.1 will hold in the weak-field limit.

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