Dielectric relaxation in solids

Chelsea Dielectrics Press Ltd., 33 Lynwood Road, London W5 1JQ (1983), xvi 380 pp., 147 Figs. ISBN 0950871109Dielectric Relaxation in Solids is a book that anyone who deals intimately with electrical measurements would be wise to have. It is sad that there are so few copies in print. The book covers the theory of how matter relaxes after inducing an electric field. The use of Frequency Responce Analyzers has started to become commonplace in testing semiconductors, batteries, and other electronic equipment. Even so, few who use these instruments know how to fully interpret the results of their tests. A mere perusal of this book would suffice to remedy this. The other options are the sequel "The Universal Relaxation Law" and a book edited by MacDonald called "Impedance Spectroscopy". Like the former, DRS is a monograph. While the MacDonald book is broader in range and more recent in theory, it lacks the wit, the simplicity, humor, and lucid writing that characterizes Jonscher's style. There is much here that remains to be learned and put to use.