Structural studies of boracites. A review of the properties of boracites

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Abstract
The unusual ferroelectric, magnetic, dynamical and structural properties exhibited by the boracites have attracted increasing attention over recent years. Also of recent interest has been the nature of phase transitions involving more than one order parameter. Boracites are believed to afford examples of such transitions, here called 'coupled phase transitions'. A programme of structural studies has been initiated to investigate the changes of structure associated with these transitions, using synthetic boracites from a common source. To set this new programme in its current context a review is presented of what is known so far of the characteristics and mutual interactions of the properties of boracites. The nature of coupled phase transitions is summarized. The need to investigate the as yet neglected phenomenon of growth sectors in boracites is stressed.