Electron microscopy study of discommensurations in K2ZnCl4

Discommensurations have been studied by transmission electron microscopy in the ferroelectric commensurate phase of K2ZnCl4. Characteristic patterns show regularly arranged pairs of discommensurations and vortices where three pairs or six isolated discommensurations terminate. The results point to an attractive interaction between isolated discommensurations and to a repulsive interaction between pairs of discommensurations.