Abstract
The symmetry of boundaries between ferroelectric, ferroelastic, and antiphase domains is a key element for a theoretical understanding of their properties. Here, we derive this symmetry from their organic relation to the symmetry of the primary transition order parameters. The domain wall symmetries are shown to coincide with directions of the order-parameter -dimensional vector space, corresponding to sum of the vectors associated with adjacent domain states. This property is illustrated by the determination of the maximal symmetries of domain walls in , , , and (). Besides, the domain pattern in is interpreted as resulting from an annihilation-creation process, the annihilation of the antiphase domain walls creating six ferroelectric domain walls merging at a single point.
- Received 22 January 2014
- Revised 31 March 2014
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.89.134104
©2014 American Physical Society