A new order parameter model for the improper ferroelastic phase transitions in KMnF3 single crystal

This paper proposes a new order parameter model which satisfactorily explains complicated symmetry changes, the temperature–pressure (T–P) phase diagram and elastic anomalies observed experimentally with the improper ferroelastic phase transitions in multiferroic KMnF3 single crystal. First, it is shown that the order parameter model is transformed according to the four‐dimensional reducible representation of the wavevector star channel group. Second, based on the order parameter model and the singularity theory, the sixth‐order structurally stable Landau potential model is constructed. Finally, the theoretical T–P phase diagram is plotted and the elastic anomalies possible for each of the phase transitions are discussed. This paper proposes a new order parameter model which satisfactorily explains complicated symmetry changes, the temperature–pressure (T–P) phase diagram and elastic anomalies observed experimentally with the improper ferroelastic phase transitions in multiferroic KMnF3 single crystal.