Strain at junctions in multidomain configurations

Abstract

This article deals with the determination of multidomain configurations in ferroics taking into account the elastic compatibility of the neighbouring domains. The proposed method is based on transformation matrices, which describe the spacial relationship of two crystal lattice bases for coherent domain pairs. The matrices are calculated using the symmetry operations between domains and lattice parameters. The principle point of this method is the comparison of the product of transformation matrices and the unity matrix. For example, by using this method it was shown that the junction of three and five orientation domains is strained whereas the encounter of four domains is strain free in three different ferroelastic perovskite phases. The derived allowed four-domain configurations are confirmed by experimental data.

Keywords:

• ferroelastics
• ferroelectrics
• domain walls
• domain configuration
• transformation matrix
• perovskite

Acknowledgements

The work was supported by WTZ (grant UKR07/009) and Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science (Project “Segnet”).