A transition between two states having magnetic or crystallographic structures with a basic lattice and an imposed super-periodicity. In the commensurate (lock-in) state this super-periodicity is a simple rational multiple of the basic
unit cell. In the incommensurate state the ratio of the super-periodicity repeat distance to the basic lattice repeat distance is irrational and may show continuous variation with variation in some degree of freedom (e.g. temperature, pressure, composition) of the system. Example: The transition of
Rb2ZnCl4
from an incommensurate structure to a commensurate structure at the lock-in temperature,
, which is dependent on the crystal growth method and varies in the range
to
.
Note:
A commensurate–incommensurate transition also occurs in liquid-crystal systems where there is an incommensurability in the packing of dimers in relation to monomers.
Source:
PAC, 1994, 66, 577
(Definitions of terms relating to phase transitions of the solid state (IUPAC Recommendations 1994))
on page 579
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by A. D. McNaught and A.Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997). XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic, J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
doi:10.1351/goldbook.
