A Theory Of Non Debye Relaxation In Condensed Matter

This paper is an expository account of a theory of relaxation phenomena in condensed matter. Developed in detail is a picture of the relaxation process in condensed matter that shows that the time dependent transition rates (TDTR) are of paramount importance in giving rise to the non-Debye relaxation. It is suggested that the microscopic mechanism underlying this TDTR is another aspect of the heat bath with which the relaxing system is in contact, not considered before. The nature of the low-energy level spacings of the heat bath determine the long time relaxation process. Alternative procedures of arriving at the same TDTR are also discussed.