Inelastic neutron scattering, lattice dynamics, and high-pressure phase stability of zircon-structured lanthanide orthophosphates

Inelastic neutron-scattering experiments and lattice-dynamical calculations are reported on a series of rare-earth orthophosphates RPO4 R=Tm, Er, Ho, and Tb. The experimental phonon spectra for the compounds are in good agreement with our model calculations. The lattice-dynamical model is found useful for the calculation of various thermodynamic properties such as the lattice specific heat, thermal expansion, and equation of state of these compounds. The RPO4 compounds are known to transform to the scheelite body-centered tetragonal, I41/a or monoclinic phase P21/n at high pressures. Our calculations show that while the scheelite phase stabilizes at high pressure due to its lower volume, the monoclinic phase may occur as an intermediate phase depending on the ionic size of the R atom. The latter phase is stabilized at higher temperature at high pressure due to its high vibrational entropy. A pressure-temperature phase diagram is proposed.