Pressure-induced structural phase transition in a ferromagnet CrTe

Abstract

We studied the crystal structure of CrTe at pressures up to 51 GPa in the temperature range of 35∼300 K by in situ angle-dispersive X-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation. A pressure-induced transition from the NiAs-type structure (space group P6 3/mmc ) to the MnP-type one ( Pbnm) took place at pressures between 13 and 14 GPa. The values of the bulk moduli at room temperature for the low-pressure phase and the high-pressure phase are 43.8(5) and 45.8(5) GPa, respectively. The pressure derivative of the axial ratio c h/ a h is determined to be −2.5×10 −3 GPa −1 at room temperature in the low-pressure phase. The relationship between the disappearance of ferromagnetism and structural phase transition is also discussed.