Pressure-induced phase transitions in LiNH2

In situ high-pressure Raman spectroscopy studies on LiNH2 (lithium amide) have been performed at pressures up to 25 GPa. The pressure-induced changes in the Raman spectra of LiNH2 indicates a phase transition that begins at approximately 12 GPa is complete at approximately 14 GPa from ambient-pressure alpha-LiNH2 (tetragonal, I) to a high-pressure phase denoted here as beta-LiNH2. This phase transition is reversible upon decompression with the recovery of the alpha-LiNH2 phase at approximately 8 GPa. The N-H internal stretching modes (nu([NH2]-)) display an increase in frequency with pressure, and a new stretching mode corresponding to high-pressure beta-LiNH2 phase appears at approximately 12.5 GPa. Beyond approximately 14 GPa, the N-H stretching modes settle into two shouldered peaks at lower frequencies. The lattice modes show rich pressure dependence exhibiting multiple splitting and become well-resolved at pressures above approximately 14 GPa. This is indicative of orientational ordering [NH2]- ions in the lattice of the high-pressure beta-LiNH2 phase.     

Brillouin scattering of H2O ice to megabar pressures

The sound velocity in polycrystalline ice was measured as a function of pressure at room temperature to 100 GPa, through the phase field of ice VII and crossing the ice X transition, by Brillouin scattering in order to examine the elasticity, compression mechanism, and structural transitions in this pressure range. In particular, we focused on previously proposed phase transitions below 60 GPa. Throughout this pressure range, we find no evidence for anomalous changes in compressibility, and the sound velocities and elastic moduli do not exhibit measurable discontinuous shifts with pressure. Subtle changes in the pressure dependence of the bulk modulus at intermediate pressures can be attributed to high shear stresses at these compressions. The C(11) and C(12) moduli are consistent with previously reported results to 40 GPa and increase monotonically at higher pressures.     

Polymorphism of dense, hot oxygen

The phase diagram and polymorphism of oxygen at high pressures and temperatures are of great interest to condensed matter and earth science. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy of oxygen using laser and resistively heated diamond anvil cells reveal that the molecular high-pressure phase ε-O(2), which consists of (O(2))(4) clusters, reversibly transforms in the pressure range of 44 to 90 GPa and temperatures near 1000 K to a new phase with higher symmetry. The data suggest that this new phase (η') is isostructural to a phase η reported previously at lower pressures and temperatures, but differs from it in the P-T range of stability and type of intermolecular association. The melting curve increases monotonically up to the maximum pressures studied (～60 GPa). The structure factor of the fluid measured as a function of pressure to 58 GPa shows continuous changes toward molecular dissociation.     

Laser heating in diamond anvil cells: developments in pulsed and continuous techniques

Developments in continuous and pulsed laser‐heating techniques, and finite‐element calculations for diamond anvil cell experiments are reported. The methods involve the use of time‐resolved (5 ns gated) incandescent light temperature measurements to determine the time dependence of heat fluxes, while near‐IR incandescent light temperature measurements allow temperature measurements to as low as 500 K. Further optimization of timing in pulsed laser heating together with sample engineering will provide additional improvements in data collection in very high P–T experiments.     

Vibrational dynamics and stability of the high-pressure chain and ring phases in S and Se

The high-pressure phases of group-VI elements sulfur and selenium in their spiral chain and ring structures are examined by in situ Raman and x-ray diffraction techniques combined with first principles electronic structure calculations. The S-II, S-III, Se-I, and Se-VII having spiral chain structures and S-VI with a molecular six-member ring structure are studied in a wide P-T range. The square spiral chain structure of S-III and Se-VII is characterized by seven Raman modes that harden with increasing pressure. The calculations reproduce the observed frequencies and allow the authors to make the mode assignment. The "p-S" and "hplt" phases of sulfur reported by previous Raman studies are identified as S-II and S-III with the triangular and square spiral chain structures, respectively. The phase relations obtained by the x-ray and Raman measurements show that the high-pressure high-temperature phases of sulfur, observed by x-ray, can be induced by laser illumination at room temperature.     

First-order isostructural Mott transition in highly compressed MnO

We present evidence for an isostructural, first-order Mott transition in MnO at 105+/-5 GPa, based on high-resolution x-ray emission spectroscopy and angle-resolved x-ray diffraction data. The pressure-induced structural and spectral changes provide a coherent picture of MnO phase transitions from paramagnetic B1 to antiferromagnetic distorted B1 at 30 GPa, to paramagnetic B8 at 90 GPa, and to diamagnetic B8 at 105+/-5 GPa. The last is the Mott transition, accompanied by a significant loss of magnetic moment, an approximately 6.6% volume collapse and the insulator-metal transition as demonstrated by recent resistance measurements.