  In this work we present a new method for the calculation of the
electrostrictive properties of materials using density functional theory. The
method relies on the thermodynamical equivalence, in a dielectric, of the
quadratic mechanical responses (stress or strain) to applied electric stimulus
(electric or polarisation fields) to the strain or stress dependence of its
dielectric susceptibility or stiffness tensors. Comparing with current
finite-field methodologies for the calculation of electrostriction, we
demonstrate that our presented methodology offers significant advantages of
efficiency, robustness, and ease of use. These advantages render tractable the
highthroughput theoretical investigation into the largely unknown
electrostrictive properties of materials.
