Abstract
LIQUID water has a strong far-infrared polarisation. The origin of this has rarely been discussed in detail, although it causes the difference between the optical permittivity of about 1.8, and the limiting high frequency microwave (ɛ∞) permittivity of about 4.2. The phenomenon has been attributed by Zafar et al.1 to a high frequency relaxation of amplitude 2.4 in the permittivity, and a relaxation time of ∼ 50 ns resulting from the orientation of water molecules that are free of hydrogen bonds. Unfortunately, the authors did not apply Sherlock Holmes'2 adage that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. Not all possible explanations of this polarisation have been considered and eliminated, although the correct one has been mentioned. There can be little doubt that there is, at present, no evidence for a new orientational relaxation.
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WHALLEY, E. The origin of the far-infrared polarisation of liquid water. Nature 251, 217–218 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/251217a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/251217a0
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