Path-integral calculation of the third dielectric virial coefficient of helium based on ab initio three-body...

We develop a surface for the electric dipole moment of three interacting helium atoms and use it with state-of-the-art potential and polarizability surfaces to compute the third dielectric virial coefficient, Cɛ, for both 4He and 3He isotopes. Our results agree with previously published data computed using an approximated form for the three-body polarizability and are extended to the low-temperature regime by including exchange effects. In addition, the uncertainty of Cɛ is rigorously determined for the first time by propagating the uncertainties of the potential and polarizability surfaces; this uncertainty is much larger than the contribution from the dipole-moment surface to Cɛ. Our results compare reasonably well with the limited experimental data. The first-principles values of Cϵ computed in this work will enhance the accuracy of primary temperature and pressure metrology based on measurements of the dielectric constant of helium.