Dielectric studies and interpretation of the first-order cooperative Jahn-Teller phase transition in DyAsO4

The first-order Jahn-Teller phase transition in DyAsO4 has been studied using precise dielectric susceptibility measurements. Discontinuities in the order parameter and the c-axis susceptibility are observed at the transition temperature. They persist in low magnetic fields but are progressively suppressed by higher fields. The data are interpreted using a molecular field model in which the ion-ion interactions are allowed to depend on the order parameter.