Anomalous high pressure dependence of the Jahn-Teller phonon in La(0.75)Ca(0.25)MnO(3)

Raman spectra of La(0.75)Ca(0.25)MnO(3) have been collected for the first time over a wide pressure range (0-14 GPa) using a diamond anvil cell. The frequency range explored (200-1100 cm(-1)) and the very good quality of the data allowed us to carefully analyze the pressure evolution of the phonon modes of the MnO(6) octahedra. The results show an abrupt transition at approximately 7.5 GPa with an evident deviation from the linear trend of the frequency of the Jahn-Teller phonon versus the applied pressure, accompanied by a strong phonon broadening. This behavior disagrees with the predicted insulator to metal transition and, on the contrary, indicates the occurrence of a new unpredicted phase in the very high pressure regime.