Neutron and X-ray diffraction studies of a powder sample of the high-temper
ature superconductor Hg0.8Tl0.2Ba2Ca2Cu3O8+delta have been performed in the
temperature ranges 300-4.5 and 300-80K, respectively, to investigate a str
uctural anomaly at similar to 138 K. We have found that this anomaly is con
nected to a distortion of the CuO2-layers. The X-ray intensity and waveleng
th influence have been investigated and a conclusion about a possible photo
-domain effect is made. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.