The pressure dependence of the crystal structure of La2CuO4

Abstract
Using energy dispersive diffraction techniques employing synchrotron radiation the authors measured the effect of pressure on the lattice parameters of La2CuO4. During compression the c/a ratio remains constant up to about 150 kbar showing that the effect of pressure is isotropic, in contrast with the magnetic properties which are highly two-dimensional. The results agree well with the predictions of band-structure calculations, suggesting that the bonding is governed by the La and O atoms and not by the Cu-O2 layers.