Phenomenological approach to a transition into the incommensurate phase for thin films

Abstract

A phenomenological theory of the incommensurate phase transition in thin films is presented for the case of the single-component order parameter. The order parameter distribution over the film is obtained under the assumption of slowly-varying amplitude. The size effect on the temperature of the phase transition into the incommensurate phase has been considered.

Revtex-4, 9 pages, 4 figures