The analysis of relaxation time constant population distributions in dielectric materials

Charge transport phenomena in complex dielectric media are frequently characterised by distributed relaxation times and associated activation energy spectra. The population distribution of such relaxation phenomena may be determined via isothermal observations of associated rate processes or by variable temperature (tempering) observations. The author shows how power law and logarithmic power law initial relaxation time population distributions lead to analytically simple forms for reaction rates under both isothermal and tempering conditions. It is thus indicated how measured relaxation rate data can be used to deduce arbitrary population distributions.