Synchrotron x-ray-scattering study of the normal-incommensurate phase transition in Rb₂ZnCl₄

The results of high-resolution synchrotron x-ray-scattering experiments on the normal-incommensurate phase transition in Rb2ZnCl4 are reported. Measured critical exponents for the intensities of the first three harmonics of the incommensurate modulation wave below T-c agree well with theoretical predictions for the n=2, D=3 (SD-XY) universality class. The scattering observed above T-c corrresponds to critical fluctuations on two distinct length scales: the critical exponents for the short length scale component of the scattering agree with those expected for the 3D-XY universality class. The value found for the exponent of the inverse correlation length of the long length scale component is nu(s)=0.7+/-0.2. A comparison of data taken in Laue and Bragg geometries at different photon energies suggests that the second length scale scattering originates in the near-surface region. Possible explanations of the two length scale behavior are discussed.