On the harmonic analysis of non-linear dielectric effects

We investigate the nonlinear dielectric effects in a polar viscous liquid, propylene carbonate, by analyzing the voltage and current traces obtained for a sinusoidal electric field at a frequency of 1 kHz and field amplitudes as high as 162 kV/cm. The main source of non-linear behavior results from the energy absorbed from the field and is understood quantitatively. However, there is a qualitative difference in the behavior of the field induced change, Δε^′′(E), and the third harmonic amplitude of the current, I_3ω. Although both Δε^′′(E) and I_3ω are considered reliable measures of non-linear behavior, we show here that the third harmonic signal reflects only those non-linear responses that are instantaneous on the time scale of the test frequency.