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A method that employs simultaneous neutron and γ-ray diffraction techniques is proposed for accurate measurements of strains with or without an applied electric field (0–100 kV m−1). Instead of an absolute determination of the position of the neutron Bragg peak, a relative measurement of the neutron and γ peak positions is used and allows a determination of the lattice-parameter changes with an accuracy of within 2 × 10−6. This technique avoids systematic errors originating in sample rotations by taking advantage of a reference directly related to the crystal lattice. The method appears to be particularly important for crystals that exhibit structural phase transitions, as demonstrated by the measurement of the strain Uxx in KH2PO4 crystals as a function of temperature and applied electric field. In this case the errors would amount to ±20%. The results demonstrate the need to re-examine the theory previously proposed by Uesu, Tanaka & Kobayashi [Ferroelectrics (1974), 7, 247–249] to interpret the electromechanical properties of KH2PO4.

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