The universal dielectric response and its physical significance

Gives a comprehensive presentation of an integrating approach to the interpretation of the universal behavior of relaxation in a wide range of dielectric systems. The concepts of energy criterion, of screening, and of different types of interactions between charges or dipoles based on Coulombic `structural´ or any other type of coupling are being applied to a variety of situations and they are seen to give a satisfactory explanation of the behavior of a wide range of systems. It is believed that this approach offers a better insight into the responses of many systems that could be had under alternative theories, but it is pointed out that this does not necessarily constitute a proof of its validity