Ferroic materials are important not only because of the improved understandingof condensed matter but also because of their present and potential deviceapplicat... » 

Ferroic materials are important not only because of the improved understandingof condensed matter but also because of their present and potential deviceapplications. This book presents a unified description of ferroic materials atan introductory level with the unifying factor being the occurrence ofnondisruptive phase transitions in crystals that alter pointgroup symmetry.The book also aims to further systemitize the subject of ferroic materialsemploying some formal carefully worded definitions and classificationschemes. The basic physical principles leading to the wideranging applicationsof ferroic materials are also explained while placing extra emphasis on theutilitarian role of symmetry in materials science. «