Some methodological aspects of the thermodynamics of dielectrics are discussed. In particular, it is noted that in the general case neither the electric displacement D nor the electric field strength E can be taken as the thermodynamic parameter defining the state of a polarized medium and that the electric polarization P is the appropriate choice. The relation between D and E as defined by the material equation of a medium is shown to be valid only in the state of thermodynamic equilibrium and hence is violated by fluctuations of P. In such an event, the material equation of a dielectric is not an analogue of the equation of state of the substance, which relates the pressure to the volume.

PACS: 77.22.−d DOI: 10.1070/PU1998v041n12ABEH000514 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/1998/12/e/ 000078107700005 Citation: Mikaelyan M A "Methodological aspects of the thermodynamics of dielectrics" Phys. Usp. 41 1219–1227 (1998) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks Оригинал: Микаэлян М А «Методические вопросы термодинамики диэлектриков» УФН 168 1331–1339 (1998); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0168.199812e.1331