Phenomenological theory of domain structures in quartz

Abstract

A phenomenological theory of the incommensurate phase of quartz is presented. The theory is based on the Ginzburg-Landau free energy density expansion. Both analytic and numerical methods are used to model one and two dimensional domain structures. Of particular significance with the one dimensional theory is the prediction of the rippled commensurate state. The two dimensional theory models the domain size, experimental presented, shape and orientation in agreement with results. Phase diagrams for quartz are presented.