Electrostatic energy in ionic crystals by the planevise summation method.

Abstract

An expression for the potential field of an ideal crystal made o point charges is derived by the planewise summation method. The dependence of the potential on the shape of the specimen is discussed, as well as the connection of the present work with that of previous investigators. Using the above results a general expression for the electrostatic energy of a slab-shaped specimen of an ionic crystal is obtained. The formula is applied to slabs of NaCl, CsCl and BaTiC> 3 crystals (for the latter both the cubic and the tetragonal phases are considered)