Topologies and relative energies of stacking faults occurring in the close-packed phases of Li

We utilize a continuum Ginzburg-Landau theory to predict both the homogeneous and inhomogeneous structures that can result in bcc-to-9R and bcc-to-fcc martensitic structural phase transformations. The simple proposition is made that the stacking faults that occur during the transitions to these structures are low-energy (static) structural excitations of the displacement pattern connecting parent and product phases. Then, a discussion of the topologies of the stacking faults, and their relative energies, predicted to occur in 9R and fcc Li are shown to be in agreement with the observed shifts of the Bragg peaks of the product phases from their ideal positions.