Introduction to Ferroic Materials

Ferroic materials are important, not only because of the improved understanding of condensed matter, but also because of their present and potential device applications. This book presents a unified description of ferroic materials at an introductory level, with the unifying factor being the occurrence of nondisruptive phase transitions in crystals that alter point-group symmetry. The book also aims to further systemitize the subject of ferroic materials, employing some formal, carefully worded, definitions and classification schemes. The basic physical principles leading to the wide-ranging applications of ferroic materials are also explained, while placing extra emphasis on the utilitarian role of symmetry in materials science.

Dr. Vinod Kumar Wadhawan recieved his B.Sc. (Physics) and M.Sc. (Solid State Physics) degrees from the University of Delhi, and his Ph.D. (X-Ray Crystallography) degree from the University of Bombay. He has been with the Department of Atomic Energy of the Government of India since 1967, doing research in crystallography, crystal physics, ferroic materials, phase transitions, and the role of symmetry considerations in materials science. He is presently Head of the Laser Materials Division of the Centre for Advanced Technology, Indore, India. His current research interests include relaxor ferroelectrics and crystal growth mechanisms. In 1979 Dr. Wadhawan received the Nuffield Foundation Travelling Fellowship for working at the Clarendon Laboratory, Oxford. He has also worked in laboratories of several other countries. He is a life member of the Indian Physics Association, the Materials Research Society of India (MRSI), and the Indian Laser Association. He has been awarded the MRSI Medal for the year 2000