Domain-wall structure and domain-wall strain

Stresses and strains within domain walls are important for understanding the interaction of domain walls with point defects, and the surface structure of the domain walls. Unfortunately, attempts to determine these properties of the domain wall by diffraction or other methods fail because of the low resolution of the technique. We outline a method for estimating local stresses and strains within the domain wall using Landau theories of phase transitions based on elastic data. We apply this method to the materials V3Si, TeO2 (paratellurite), and SiO2 (quartz). (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.