Coherency strains in compositionally modulated systems and superlattices: spinodal decomposition and magnetoelasticity

Systems with a coherently modulated composition are considered with regard to their elastic properties. The (stress-free) coherency strains are considered in a new frame where the standard state is redefined on the basis of the property under study. These strains are used in the study of the thermodynamics of spinodal decomposition in solids with a (generally) anisotropic distortion into a cubic matrix. Finally, the influence of these strains is considered in the study of magnetostrictive effects in such modulated systems or strained-layer superlattices.