Elastic behavior associated with phase transitions in incommensurate Ba2NaNb5O15

The elastic behavior of barium sodium niobate (Ba2NaNb5O15) has been investigated by resonant ultrasound spectroscopy through six different structural phases, with emphasis on the five incommensurate phase transitions near 40, 110, 547, 565, and 582 K. Data near 40 K are at least consistent with the existence of a lock-in transition to P4nm at that temperature [Filipic , J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 19, 236206 (2007)], which has been controversial. A relaxation process occurs around the transition near 110 K and is assigned to a process involving movement of domain walls of the phase. Unusual behavior is observed through the high-temperature incommensurate transitions with large variations in frequency in the ultrasonic resonances, and a broad peak in the dissipation. No clear signature of the 1q-2q incommensurate-incommensurate transition at 565 K is observed. This is compatible with a model in which incommensurate-incommensurate transitions are not expected to manifest elastic anomalies.