High resolution study of structural distortions in BaIrO3

BaIrO3 displays complex electronic and magnetic behaviour which has been linked to possible charge density wave formation around the magnetic ordering temperature of 180 K. Despite detailed physical property measurements by a wide range of techniques which have identified three phase transitions in this material (at 30 K, 80 K and 180 K), the changes in the crystal structure as a function of temperature remain unresolved. This study aims to rectify the situation by performing high resolution neutron diffraction measurements as a function of temperature on a 193Ir-enriched sample. This will allow us to explore the structural distortions and phase transitions in BaIrO3 in detail, aiding our understanding of the relation of the crystal structure to the ferromagnetism and the nature of the electronic structure changes which occur at the three reported transitions.