The Nonintrinsic Sector of Landau Theory

Abstract

Landau theory usually treats free-energy coefficients as intrinsic parameters fixed by thermodynamic variables. We show that externally written microscale fields can survive coarse graining and enter the free-energy functional as spatially prescribed coefficient fields. This defines a nonintrinsic sector of Landau theory. The key condition is a hierarchy of correlation, writing, and frustration lengths. We identify ion-patterned FeRh as a plausible realization.