A phenomenological theory of possible sequences of ferrotoroidal phase transitions in boracites

A phenomenological theory of the sequence of two second-order phase transitions with close temperatures is considered; such transitions occur in the Ni-Br boracite. The thermodynamic potential is written as a function of polarization P _i, magnetization M _i, and toroidal moment T _i vectors and fields E _i and H _i; T _i is treated as an order parameter. It is assumed that only one coefficient of T _i ² passes through zero as T decreases. The possibility of a sequence of two proper ferrotoroidal phase transitions along the T ₁ and T ₂ components is demonstrated. Spontaneous T _i, P _i, and M _i vector values and equations for susceptibility tensors (dielectric χ _ij = dP _i/dE _j, magnetic k _ij = dM _i/dH _j, and magnetoelectric α_ij = dP _i/dH _j = dM _j/dE _i) were obtained for three phases. Some of these values have well-defined anomalies in the vicinity of transitions. All possible sequences of ferrotoroidal phase transitions in boracites are considered. Depending on two potential coefficient values, these sequences may consist of one, two, or three such transitions.