Polarizability of the Deuteron

The theory of the polarizability of the deuteron in a uniform electric field is developed. Using the properties of the deuteron Green's function, we obtain an expression for polarizability of the deuteron which exhibits its dependence upon the spin orientation of the deuteron. This dependence arises from the inclusion of a tensor force in the neutron-proton interaction. In terms of the magnetic quantum number $m$, with respect to the direction of the electric field, the polarizability $\alpha$ is ${\alpha }_{\mathrm{SS}}+(3\mathrm{}{m}^2-2){\alpha }_{\mathrm{SD}}+{(3\mathrm{}{m}^2-2)}^2{\alpha }_{\mathrm{DD}}$. When Hulthén wave functions are used for the deuteron, ${\alpha }_{\mathrm{SS}}$ is found to be approximately 0.56×${10}^{-39\mathrm{}}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^3$ and ${\alpha }_{\mathrm{SD}}$ 0.027×${10}^{-39\mathrm{}}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^3$. The applicability of the theory to intramolecular interaction measurements and deuteron scattering experiments is discussed.