THE WATER DIPOLE-MOMENT IN WATER CLUSTERS

The average dipole moment of a water molecule in the condensed phase i s enhanced by around 40 percent relative to that of an isolated monome r. This enhancement results from the large polarization caused by the electric field induced by surrounding monomers, A quantitative molecul ar description of this polarization is essential for modeling aqueous solvation phenomena. This combined theoretical and experimental study of dipole moments in small water clusters provides such a description and also gives insights into the structure of liquid water.