The electronic quadrupole polarizibility of the oxygen ion in ionic solids

Abstract The calculation of self-consistent electrostatic fields and field gradients in corundum (α - Al 2 O 3 ) shows that the electronic quadrupole polarizibility of the oxygen ion in this crystal structure must be smaller than 1×10 −40 cm 5 . The most probable value is between 0.2 and 0.3×10 −40 cm 5 . Although this value is relatively small the effect of the oxygen quadrupole moments on the potential distribution is considerable.