Pressure dependence of the spin gap in BaVS₃

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We carried out magnetotransport experiments under hydrostatic pressure in order to study the nature of the metal-insulator transition in BaVS₃. Scaling relations for ρ(T,H,p) are established and the pressure dependence of the spin gap is determined. Our new results, in conjunction with a re-analysis of earlier specific heat and susceptibility data, demonstrate that the transition is weakly second order. The nature of the phase diagram in the T--p--H space is discussed.