β-tin→Imma→sh phase transitions of germanium.

New paths were designed for the investigations of the β-tin→Imma→sh phase transitions in nanocrystalline Ge under conditions of hydrostatic stress. A second-order transition between the β-tin and Imma phases was identified at 66 GPa, and a first-order transition between the Imma and sh phases was determined at 90 GPa. Superconductivity was obtained up to 190 GPa using the acquired structural data in first-principles calculations. This provides evidence that the standard electron-phonon coupling mechanism is responsible for superconductivity in Ge, as evidenced by the good agreement between the calculations and existing experiments.
(© 2011 American Physical Society)