Determination of the Nature of the Tetragonal to Orthorhombic Phase Transition in SrFe_2As_2 by Measurement of the Local Order Parameter

TL;DR

This study uses electron microscopy to clarify the nature of the tetragonal to orthorhombic phase transition in SrFe2As2, revealing it as a first-order transition involving needle-like domain growth, likely via transformation dislocations.

Contribution

It provides direct local order parameter measurements showing the transition is first order and proposes a dislocation-based mechanism for the phase change.

Findings

Transition is first order

Orthorhombic phase grows as needle domains

Dislocation passage likely drives the transition

Abstract

SrFe2As2 is the end-member for a series of iron-pnictide superconductors and has a tetragonal-to-orthorhombic phase transition near 200 K. Previous macroscopic measurements to determine the nature of the transition gave seemingly inconsistent results so we use electron microscopy to monitor the local order parameter showing that the transformation is first order and that the orthorhombic phase grows as needle domains. This suggests the transition occurs via the passage of transformation dislocations, explaining the apparent inconsistencies. This mechanism may be common to similar transitions.