Direct Access to the Order Parameter: Parameterized Symmetry Modes and Rigid Body Movements as a Function of Temperature

Abstract

The first order phase transition of CsFeO2 was investigated using synchrotron powder diffraction data as a function of temperature. Two alternative approaches were used to describe the deviation of the framework crystal structure relative to the high-symmetry parent structure: symmetry (a.k.a. distortion) modes and polyhedral-tilt parameters. In both cases, the relevant parameters were refined as a function of temperature using the method of parametric Rietveld refinement. We demonstrate a semi-automated and generally applicable method for the determination of spontaneous lattice strain variations, order parameters and power-law exponents as derived from Landau theory.