Pressure-induced structural phase transition in a ferromagnet CrTe

We studied the crystal structure of CrTe at pressures up to 51 GPa in the temperature range of 35 similar to 300 It 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 fur the low-pressure phase and the high-pressure phase are 43.8(5) and 15.8(5) GPa, respectively. The pressure derivative of the axial ratio c(h)/a(h) is determined to be -2.5x10(-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. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.