Microscopic theory of dielectric response for molecular multilayers

Microscopic molecular theory is used to derive detailed algebraic results for the linear dielectric response of a multilayer assembly of molecules in terms of the responses of the individual layers. Initially, the layers are assumed not to interact with one another. The extension to nonlinear response is outlined. Each layer's contribution to the overall response is weighted by its volume fraction and by factors giving its relative contribution to the macroscopic electric field. The results are consistent with those derived previously for an assembly of layers characterized by their permittivity tensors. A full treatment of the linear response of interacting layers is then presented; the overall response is now an average, again weighted by volume fraction, over the mean responses in individual sets of identical layers, including interactions across the interfaces to other layers.