Absence of abrupt pressure-induced magnetic transitions in magnetite

The structural properties of magnetite Fe(3)O(4) under pressure have been extensively studied and are well established. This is not the case for its electronic and magnetic properties. We report a high-pressure x-ray magnetic circular dichroism study of magnetite up to 41 GPa. We observe a continuous evolution of the magnetic moment in the whole pressure range, in agreement with a band-structure description of the electronic state of magnetite. We highlight distinct regimes of magnetism. The x-ray absorption spectra do not suggest any major modification in the local structure in this pressure range.