The crystal structure and the equation of state of cerium metal in the pressure range 0-46 GPa

High pressure X-ray diffraction studies have been performed on cerium powder up to 46 GPa using a diamond anvil cell and synchrotron radiation. The results confirm the following transitions: γ(fcc) - α(fcc) at 0.8 GPa, α(fcc) - α'' (monoclinic b.c.) at 5 GPa and α'' (monoclinic b.c.) - tetragonal b.c. at 12 GPa. All high pressure structures can be described as distorted fcc. No clear evidence has been found for the α'-phase with α-uranium structure. It is found that the bulk modulus is 21 GPa for γ-Ce and 20 GPa for the combined compression data of α-Ce and tetragonal Ce in good agreement with other experimental and theoretical data. The experimental V(P) data are compared with a theoretical equation of state obtained by the linear muffin-tin method. (orig.)