3. Dielectric hysteresis phenomenon

3.1 Electromagnetic wave-condensed matter interaction

The direct degradation of electromagnetic energy into heat within a dielectric material takes place as soon as a time-dependent electric field is applied to the material. In electrothermics, this is classically referred to as "temperature rise due to dielectric hysteresis". The term "hysteresis" does indeed evoke the electrical cause of energy degradation, and the developments that follow justify it. However, the primary response of materials is the phenomenon of "polarization", followed by "dielectric relaxation".