Equation of state and structural phase transitions in iron-based Ba3TaFe3Si2O14 langasite at high hydrostatic pressures

Synchrotron X-ray diffraction studies of the structural characteristics of Ba3TaFe3Si2O14 langasite are performed at high hydrostatic pressures (up to 60 GPa) created in a diamond anvil cell. At pressures up to 20 GPa, the Mössbauer absorption spectra for 57Fe nuclei and the Raman spectra are recorded. Two structural phase transitions at P ≈ 5.5 and 20 GPa are observed. The first transition corresponds to the displacements of light oxygen atoms and to an increase in the local symmetry of 3f oxygen tetrahedra surrounding iron ions. The second one is accompanied by a pronounced change in the lattice parameter c, and the unit cell volume undergoes a stepwise drop as large as 8.6%. An appreciable decrease in the parameter c at the structural transition should result in a significant increase in the exchange coupling constants between iron ions in neighboring ab planes underlying the giant increase in the Néel temperature in this crystal at pressures exceeding 20 GPa.