Second-order ferroic properties of a Pb5Ge3O11 uniaxial ferroelectric

The ferrobielastic properties (ferroic properties of the second order) earlier theoretically predicted for lead germanate uniaxial ferroelectric crystals are justified experimentally. It is demonstrated that single-domain samples are formed upon cooling to temperatures below the Curie point under uniaxial mechanical stresses corresponding to a combination of mechanical stresses σ₁₁σ₁₃ or σ₂₂σ₂₃. The macroscopic mechanism of this phenomenon is considered.