##### Polarization
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In a macroscopic sample subjected to an external electrostatic field, a complicated microscopic dance is induced among the constituent charges. As a result, local induced/permanent dipole moments tend to somewhat cancel each other, leaving a residual polarization. The leading remnant can be captured in a vector called the polarization and defined as \[ {\bf P} \equiv ~\mbox{dipole moment per unit volume} \]

Though it's important to remember that one could also talk about higher moments than dipole moments, for virtually all practical purposes the polarization is sufficient.

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Author: Jean-Sébastien Caux

Created: 2022-03-24 Thu 08:42