Raman spectra of isotopically pure CuCl samples ${(}^{63}\mathrm{CuCl}$ and ${}^{65}\mathrm{CuCl})$ were measured under hydrostatic pressure up to 14 GPa at low temperature $\left(5\mathrm{}\hspace{0.5em}\mathrm{K}\right).\mathrm{}$ Up to six Raman modes were resolved for the binary BC8-analog phase CuCl-IV in the range from 4.1 to 14 GPa. The phonon dispersion relations of this phase were calculated within a rigid ion model. Based on this calculation an assignment for the observed Raman-active modes is proposed. The calculated pressure dependences of mode frequencies reproduce the experimental results. Raman spectra support the existence of the phase CuCl-IIa in a narrow pressure range from 3.3 to 4.1 GPa.

• Received 5 May 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.60.9410