Electronic dielectric constants of insulators calculated by the polarization method

We discuss a nonperturbative, technically straightforward, easy-to-use, and computationally affordable method, based on polarization theory, for the calculation of the electronic dielectric constant of insulating solids at the first-principles level. We apply the method to GaAs, AlAs, InN, SiC, ZnO, GaN, AlN, BeO, LiF, PbTiO₃, and CaTiO₃. The predicted ε^∞'s agree well with those given by density-functional perturbation theory (the reference theoretical treatment), and they are generally within less than 10% of experiment.