Variation of the local field through the liquid-vapour interface

We derive an integral equation for the self-consistent local field Eloc(z) within an inhomogeneous non-polar fluid, with particular application to the liquid-vapour interface. Approximate solutions are given for the cases of induced atomic dipoles oriented perpendicular and parallel to the interface. For the perpendicular case we relate the average field to the local field and thus obtain an equation for the static dielectric constant ϵ(z) in terms of the density profile n(z). The departures of the local field from Lorentz form Eext/(1 + (83)παn(z)) and of the dielectric constant from the Clausius-Mossotti form (1 + (83)πan(z))/(1 − (43)παn(z)) are shown to be small. For the parallel case we discuss fringing of the external field and show that the dipoles align themselves with the average field, not the external field. The departure of the local field from Eave/(1 − (43παn(z)) is shown to be small.