Local structural studies of Ba(1-x)K(x)Fe2As2 using atomic pair distribution function analysis.

Systematic local structural studies of the Ba(1-x)K(x)Fe(2)As(2) system are undertaken at room temperature using atomic pair distribution function analysis. The local structure of the Ba(1-x)K(x)Fe(2)As(2) is found to be well described by the long-range structure extracted from diffraction experiments, but with anisotropic atomic vibrations of the constituent atoms (U11 = U22 not equal U33). The crystal unit cell parameters, the FeAs(4) tetrahedral angle and the pnictogen height above the Fe-plane are seen to show systematic evolution with K doping, underlining the importance of the structural changes, in addition to the charge doping, in determining the properties of Ba(1-x)K(x)Fe(2)As(2).