A measure of how ordered a system is. An order parameter of
zero corresponds to complete
disorder, and when the order
parameter is a
scalar, an order parameter of unity generally corresponds to the maximum possible order. Sometimes the order
parameter is a
vector. For example, if the system is a collection of atoms with
spins which can point in any direction, the
average spin could be used as an order parameter.
There is a fairly standard definition of the order parameter for substances such as plagioclase feldspars which become ordered
by arranging two types of atom in a regular pattern. If the framework is such that equal numbers of the two types of atom can
form an alternating checkerboard pattern:
A B A B
B A B A
A B A B
B A B A
then we define the order parameter Q by
Q = (No. of Al atoms on A sublattice - No. of Al atoms on B sublattice) / Total no. of Al atoms
This definition allows the order parameter to vary from 1 to -1 whatever the proportion of Al atoms is.