Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 25, 2026

The Preparation of Electrohydrodynamic Bridges from Polar Dielectric Liquids
Published on: September 30, 2014
A theory of interactions between polarizable dielectric spheres
Jian Qin1, Jiyuan Li2, Victor Lee3
1Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Abstract:
Surface charging or polarization can strongly affect the nature of interactions between charged dielectric objects, particularly when sharp dielectric discontinuities are involved. By relying on a generalized image method, we derive an analytical, perturbative theory of the polarization and the interactions between charged particles in many-body systems. The validity and accuracy of the theory are established by comparing its predictions to full-blown numerical solutions. The importance of polarizability is then demonstrated for clusters of dielectric spheres, as well as a periodic crystal of charged dielectric spheres arranged into a NaCl-type lattice. The analytical framework for understanding the consequences of polarization will enable molecular simulations of large systems of polarizable particles.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Potential Due to a Polarized Object
Dielectric Polarization in a Capacitor
Induced Electric Dipoles
Since the absolute value of potential energy holds no physical meaning, its zero value can be chosen as per...
Van der Waals Interactions
Susceptibility, Permittivity and Dielectric Constant
The Electrical Double Layer

