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X-ray and elastic neutron scattering measurements reveal that the quasi-one-dimensional Cu~+(S = 1/2) antiferromagnet CuGe03 undergoes a second order structural transition towards a dimerized ground state at the same temperature, Tsp = 14 K, at which the magnetic susceptibility abruptly decreases. X-ray diffuse scattering measurements show that the critical fluctuations are quasi one dimensional on a large temperature range above Tsp. These results show unambiguously that CuGe03 undergoes a true spin-Peierls transition triggered by the magnetic chains.

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