Ab initio study of the high-pressure behavior of CaSiO3 perovskite

Using density functional simulations, within the generalized gradient approximation and projector-augmented wave method, we study structures and energetics of CaSiO3 perovskite in the pressure range of the Earth’s lower mantle (0–150 GPa). At zero Kelvin temperature the cubic $$(Pm\; \bar 3\,m)$$ CaSiO3 perovskite structure is unstable in the whole pressure range, at low pressures the orthorhombic (Pnam) structure is preferred. At 14.2 GPa there is a phase transition to the tetragonal (I4/mcm) phase. The CaIrO3-type structure is not stable for CaSiO3. Our results also rule out the possibility of decomposition into oxides.