Dielectric relaxation in CH3X molecules at radio frequencies

Abstract

Measurements are reported of the dielectric susceptibility for the series of CH3X molecules with X ≡ F, Cl, Br, I, (CN). A differential type oscillator operating at 48.15 MHz with 1 part in 108 short term stability was constructed for the experiments. Data were taken at a temperature somewhat above ambient and for densities between 0.001 and 1.0 amagats. For each gas a Debye lineshape was observed. The effective diameters for molecular reorientation that were deduced are in reasonable agreement with earlier results obtained at microwave frequencies with the exception of that for CH3(CN). A theoretical prediction that the addition of a Stark field perpendicular to the radio frequency field would significantly modify the Debye lineshape was put to the experimental test. The result was negative.