Time-dependent phenomena in athermal martensitic transformations

The unexpected finding of time-dependent behaviour in athermal martensitic transformations (MT) above the MS temperature has prompted many experimental studies of incubation time. We review here various data scattered in the literature, emphasising the seminal experimental and theoretical work by Kakeshita et al. Contradicting experimental results and alternative concepts as put forward by Otsuka et al. and Planes et al. are discussed in some detail as well. Future experiments to clarify the situation are suggested, in particular the application of X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy to extend the range of observable time scales into regimes dominated by the dynamics of potential embryonic fluctuations.