DOMAINS AND DOMAIN-WALL INTERACTIONS NEAR THE IMPROPER FERROELASTIC PHASE-TRANSITION OF KSCN

In the present paper we study the evolution of the ferroelastic domain s and domain wall interactions of KSCN with temperature using a polari zing microscope. The typical lens shape of the ferroelastic domains in KSCN and the change of their shape (i.e. the width and length) with t emperature are explained in terms of the dislocation theory for twin b oundaries. The interface between the high- and low-symmetry phases was found to be at 45-degrees orientation with respect to the ferroelasti c domain walls, in agreement with recent theoretical results.