We report the first ever calculation of the frequency dependent anisot
ropic dielectric function of graphite. We have used the LMTO-ASA metho
d including the combined correction terms. On comparison with the expe
rimental data, we find good agreement as far as the anisotropy is conc
erned. The individual epsilon(perpendicular to)(omega) and epsilon(par
allel to)(omega) are also in reasonable agreement with the data. Copyr
ight (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd