Abstract
A discussion is given of the assumptions involved in recent theories of the dielectric constants of the alkali halide crystals with particular reference to the contributions arising from short-range polarization effects. A theory is developed on a semi-empirical basis which makes it possible to divide this effect unambiguously between the positive and negative ions. This theory is consistent with the experimental data and should provide a means of including this effect in calculations on the lattice dynamics of these crystals.

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