On the phase superlattice in a vanadium dioxide film

A statistical theory has been proposed for the formation of a heterostructure of alternating metallic and semiconducting phases in a single-crystal VO$_2$ film on a substrate. The size distribution function of metallic domains is found as a function of temperature. The temperature dependence of the intensity of light transmitted through the film $I(T)$ is obtained. The depth and width of the dip in curve $I(T)$ near a phase transition, calculated in the framework of the developed theory, agree with the experimental data.