Basic physics of insulators

A number of areas of basic insulator physics that have made considerable steps forward the last few years are reviewed, and it shown how these have affected the understanding of practical dielectrics and methods of data handling. The topics covered include mathematical techniques, advances in the computation of electric fields and the theory of dielectrics and space charges, novel experimental techniques for carrier mobility and charge location, and changes in the view of composite materials and breakdown brought about by the introduction of percolation theory and the methods of chemical analysis. Speculation on the most fruitful directions for the future is included