Superconducting phase prepared from Ta₃Si under high pressure

High-pressure behaviour of Ta₃Si intermetallic compound was investigated by shock compression and static compression methods. Superconducting phase with T_C = 9.3 K was found in the sample shocked to 50-61 GPa, however most of the shock recovered sample indicated the starting stable phase with the Ti₃P-type structure. The new superconducting phase was not obtained from static compression up to 15 GPa and 800 °C. Bulk modulus of Ta₃Si with the Ti₃P-type structure was determined to be K₀ = 246(4) GPa. The present results suggest that a rapid phase transformation occurred during shock compression, but most of the high-pressure phase was reverted to the stable phase in the decompression process.