The Faraday effect near the ferroelastic phase transition of lead phosphate Pb3(PO4)2

Abstract

Abstract The Faraday effect and the absolute variation of the index ellipsoid of Pb3(PO4)2 were studied between 415 K and 460 K near the ferroelastic transition point (453 K). The experimental findings are in good agreement with the three-component order-parameter model leading to a nearly tricritical transition. A significant anomaly in the Faraday rotation and the birefringence ('n 3 – n 1) near 430 K is observed indicating a different temperature evolution of the excess volume compared with the symmetry breaking parameters which follow (n 2 – n 1).