The Dielectric Constant of Barium Oxide

Abstract

The availability of crystals of BaO made possible an investigation of the low frequency dielectric constant $\ensuremath{\kappa}$ of BaO. This has been measured over the frequency range 60 to 6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{7}$ cycles per second and the temperature range -25\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 60\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. Over these ranges $\ensuremath{\kappa}$ is about 34, which is quite different from the value of 14 frequently quoted. There is some evidence for a rise in $\ensuremath{\kappa}$ at the lowest frequencies. Data on dielectric loss is presented.