Strain dependence of the electrical resistivity in BaIrO₃: A probe for magneto-elastic coupling.

We report a strong hysteretic response in electrical resistivity upon application of anisotropic biaxial strain in ferromagnetic BaIrO₃. As T is lowered from room temperature through the magnetic ordering temperature (T_C ~ 180K ), we find that the hysteretic behavior is frozen out. This temperature dependence indicates the presence of a strong magneto-elastic coupling manifested as lattice stiffening due to the ferromagnetic ordering. We discuss this relationship in connection to the variance of the Ir-O-Ir bond angle within the family of iridates.