Combined synchrotron angle-dispersive powder diffraction and micro-Raman spectroscopy are used to investigate the pressure-induced lattice instabilities that are accompanied by T$_{rm c}$ anomalies in YBa$_{rm 2}$Cu$_{rm 4}$O$_{rm 8}$, in comparison with the optimally doped YBa$_{rm 2}$Cu$_{rm 3}$O$_{rm 7-delta}$ and the non-superconducting PrBa$_{rm 2}$Cu$_{rm 3}$O$_{rm 6.92}$. In the first two superconducting systems there is a clear anomaly in the evolution of the lattice parameters and an increase of lattice disorder with pressure, that starts at $approx3.7 GPa$ as well as irreversibility that induces a hysteresis. On the contrary, in the Pr-compound the lattice parameters follow very well the expected equation of state (EOS) up to 7 GPa. In complete agreement with the structural data, the micro-Raman data of the superconducting compounds show that the energy and width of the A$_{rm g}$ phonons show anomalies at the same pressure range where the lattice parameters deviate from the EOS and the average Cu2-O$_{pl}$ bond length exhibits a strong contraction and correlate with the non-linear pressure dependence of T$_{rm c}$. This is not the case for the non superconducting Pr sample, clearly indicating a connection with the charge carriers. It appears that the cuprates close to optimal doping are at the edge of lattice instability.
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