180° domain structure in a cubic U3P4 crystal

In a thick plate cut from a U₃P₄ single crystal perpendicularly to the 111 direction, changes in the domain structure under the influence of a strong magnetic field perpendicular to the plate surface were studied. Experiments were carried out at T = 28 K, applying the Kerr effect technique to make the domain structure visible. In the cubic crystal studied, the applied field was found to force the appearance of a 180° branched maze domain structure, typical of thick plates of highly anisotropic uniaxial materials. The Hubert-Bodenberger model of this structure was improved and extended by considering the change in the shape of domains occurring with increase in the distance from the sample surfaces, by describing the sample in a non-zero magnetic field and by analyzing the sample in the state of remanence. The model was applied to the case of U₃P₄ and the energy density of 180° domain walls was estimated (γ = 12 erg/cm²).