Structural and magnetic phase transitions in Pr

The crystal and magnetic structures of Pr0.15Sr0.85MnO3 manganite have been studied by means of powder X-ray and neutron diffraction in the temperature range 10–400 K at high external pressures up to 55 and 4 GPa, respectively. A structural phase transition from cubic to tetragonal phase upon compression was observed, with large positive pressure coefficient of transition temperature dTct/dP = 28(2) K/GPa. The C-type antiferromagnetic (AFM) ground state is formed below TN ≈ 260 K at ambient pressure. While at ambient pressure the structural and magnetic transition temperatures are close, Tct ~ TN, upon compression they become decoupled with TN ≪ Tct due to much weaker TN pressure dependence with coefficient dTN/dP = 3.8(1) K/GPa