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Symmetry breaking of ionic semiconductors under pressure: the case of InAs
H Libotte1, G Aquilanti, S Pascarelli
1Condensed Matter Physics Laboratory, University of Liège, B5, B-4000 Sart-Tilman, Belgium.
Abstract:
The NaCl-to-Cmcm phase transition and the Cmcm structure of InAs under high pressure are studied by x-ray diffraction. The lattice parameters and fractional coordinates are given as a function of pressure. We propose a mechanism responsible for this type of symmetry breaking under pressure. We show that the ppσ interactions do not play a major role in the stabilization of the NaCl structure. Consequently the NaCl-to-Cmcm transition occurs only in compounds with a large charge transfer. General conclusions on the behavior of III-V semiconductors under pressure are drawn.
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