The variation of the dielectric constant of diamond with pressure

Abstract

The variation of dielectric constant with pressure of two diamonds has been measured. If an atomic polarizability α is calculated from the Clausius–Mossotti equation, it is found that V/α(∂α/∂V) _T has the value 1·2, which conforms closely to its value for silicon and germanium. Some of the results of other workers on the photoelastic properties of diamond are also in conformity with the present results. There is some uncertainty, however, as to the elastic constants of diamond and it seems possible that both these and V/α(∂α/∂V) _T may depend significantly on the impurity content of the stones.