Eur. Phys. J. B 71, 315-320 (2009)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2009-00229-9

Tensor distinction of domains in ferroic crystals^*

Department of Physics, Eberly College of Science, The Pennsylvania State University, P.O. Box 7009, Penn State, Berks Campus, Reading, PA, 19610, USA

Corresponding author: ^a u3c@psu.edu

Received: 1 March 2009
Revised: 24 April 2009
Published online: 3 July 2009

Abstract

Ferroic crystals contain two or more domains and may be distinguished by the values of components of tensorial physical properties of the domains. We have extended Aizu's global tensor distinction by magnetization, polarization, and strain of all domains which arise in a ferroic phase transition to include distinction by toroidal moment, and from phases invariant under time reversal to domains which arise in transitions from all magnetic and non-magnetic phases. For determining possible switching of domains, a domain pair tensor distinction is also considered for all pairs of domains which arise in each ferroic phase transition.