In a diamond anvil cell, a sample is pressurized by squeezing between two
gem-quality diamonds. The sample is held within a small hole (typically
300 microns or less in diameter) within a thin steel sheet. Extreme
pressures (1-300 GPa) can be readily achieved by using the diamond anvil
cell. Since diamond is transparent across a large portion of
the electromagnetic spectrum, we can use almost all solid-state analytical
techniques for in situ high-pressure study. The primary techniques
we are currently using are optical spectroscopy (Raman and Brillouin scattering)
and x-ray diffraction using the highest intensity synchrotron x-ray sources
available in the world.
The two diamonds are contained within a piston-cylinder device. Many different designs are available depending on the needs of a particular experiment. Our department machinist, George Rose, makes our diamond cells.
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| 4-post cell | Mao-type short symmetric cell |
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| Mao-type symmetric cell | Panoramic cell |