Partial order in ice VII determined by raman spectroscopy

Abstract

Raman spectra of ice VII and deuterated ice VII have been determined up to 40 GPa in the diamond anvil cell. These spectra indicate by comparison to those of ice VIII, the ordered form of ice VII, that ice VII is characterized by short range order. The proton order increases up to 12 GPa and then decreases on further compression.

On a obtenu les spectres Raman de la glace VII hydrogénéc et deutérée jusqu à 40 GPa. Par comparaison avec la glace VIII, la forme ordonnk de la glace VII, les spectres montrent l'existence d'un order local. Cet ordre cro[icaron]t avec la pression jusqu à 12 GPa et ensuite decroit.     

Gold under high pressure

Abstract

First principle predictions for the equation of state of gold using solid and liquid state theories are compared up to combined pressures and temperatures of 600 GPa and 17 000 K with static diamond anvil cell compression, ultrasonic measurements and shock Hugoniot data which include a recent laser driven shock Hugoniot points at 600 GPa. Excellent agreement between theoretical and experimental data is observed. The theoretically estimated 300 K isotherm agrees to within 2 GPa with the isotherm that has been measured to 70 GPa using the diamond anvil cell. The structural energy estimates show that the normal f.c.c. phase remains stable under pressure. The estimate of the shock Hugoniot temperature of gold at 600 GPa based on a liquid state model is consistent with the measurements of laser induced shock luminescence, which in fact provides an experimental determination of the temperature of gold above its Hugoniot melting point. The powerful means provided by theory in the prediction of material properties of gold at ultra high pressures and temperatures is significant because gold is an efficient converter of laser energy into soft X-rays and is a potential candidate as a standard for high pressure, high temperature work.     

Bulk diamond formation from graphite in the presence of C-O-H fluid under high pressure

Abstract

C-O-H fluids have been successfully applied as catalysts for bulk diamond formation under high pressure. New insight into C-O-H fluids extends the understanding of the origin of natural diamond, which is presently of interest in materials and geological sciences. This review presents current literature data concerning the synthesis and characterization of bulk diamond formation assisted by C-O-H fluids at high pressure and high temperature. Based on a general survey of this subject, the pressure-temperature regime for diamonds formed in these fluids was established and the mechanism of conversion from graphite to diamond is discussed. Finally, a few questions are put forward that may be useful for the continued development of this research area.     

Thermal conductivity of hcp iron at high pressure and temperature

Results of steady-state heat transfer experiments on iron in laser-heated diamond anvil cell, combined with numerical simulation using finite-element method are reported. Thermal boundary conditions, dimensions of sample assemblage, heating-laser beam characteristics and relevant optical properties have been well defined in the course of experiments. The thermal conductivity of the polycrystalline hexagonal-iron foil has been determined up to pressure 70 GPa and temperature 2000 K. At these conditions, the conductivity value of 32±7 W/m K was found. Sources of errors arising from uncertainties in input parameters and applied experimental procedures are discussed. Considering results of earlier preferred-orientation studies in diamond anvil cell, an averaging effect of polycrystalline texture on the intrinsic anisotropy is assumed. The obtained conductivity is interpreted as an effective value, falling in between the upper and lower bounds on the average conductivity of a random aggregate of uniaxial crystals.     

The structural and optical properties of ZnO bulk and nanocrystals under high pressure

The elastic properties of high-quality ZnO crystals and nanopowder of grain size of about 65 nm are studied for both wurtzite (low pressure) and rock-salt high pressure phases. The measured values of bulk moduli for wurtzite and rock-salt phases of bulk ZnO crystals are equal to 156±13 and 187±20 GPa, respectively, and considerably larger for ZnO nanocrystals. The phase transition begins at a pressure of about 9 GPa and it is completed at a pressure of about 13.8 GPa for bulk crystals, whereas the values of pressure at which the phase transition occurs are lower for nanocrystals. A carefull Rietveld analysis of the obtained data does not exhibit the presence of any intermediate phases between low pressure wurtzite and high pressure rock-salt phases of ZnO. The phase transition is accompanied by a strong decrease in the near-band-gap photoluminescence intensity. In addition, the pressure coefficient of the near-band-gap luminescence in ZnO nanocrystals exhibits strong deviation from the linearity observed in bulk crystals. An analysis of the results shows that defects present in the nanopowdered sample are responsible for the observed effects.     

Diamond anvils with a spherical support designed for X-ray and neutron diffraction experiments in DAC

Here, we present new diamond anvils with a spherical support designed for applications in diamond anvil cell (DAC) technique. The main feature of the anvils is the diamond crown of a spherical shape. The assembly of the spherical diamond fixed within a spherical support of a seat made of tungsten carbide or hard metals provides enhanced stability, simple alignment, and large optical and X-ray aperture that makes it very useful for broad applications in DAC technique, particularly for single crystal X-ray and powder neutron diffraction. The anvils were tested in various experiments conducted in a wide pressure–temperature range and showed a very good performance.     

A high-pressure study of Th3P4 and some U3X4 compounds

Abstract

The high-pressure crystal structures of Th₃P₄ and U₃X₄, where X = P, As and Sb, have been studied by means of synchrotron x-ray diffraction in the pressure range up to 50 GPa. The cubic phase of these compounds is retained in the whole pressure range. The bulk modulus B₀ and its pressure derivative B₀’ have been determined for each compound. A log-log plot of B₀ versus unit-cell volume gives a straight line for the uranium pnictides, with a slope about -5/3.     

FEM study on a double-beveled anvil and its application to synthetic diamonds

A new double-beveled anvil for the synthesis of high-quality diamonds has been described, which is used in a China-type large-volume, cubic-anvil, high-pressure apparatus (LV-CHPA, SPD-6X2000). Our results indicate that the pressure generation of a double-beveled anvil is more efficient than that of a single-beveled anvil. To gain the same cell pressure (5.5 GPa), the oil pressure of LV-CHPA using double-beveled anvils decreased by about 10%, compared to using single-beveled anvils. Furthermore, a double-beveled anvil can pressurize a cubic cell of 36 mm³ up to about 6.0 GPa, and simultaneously can increase the temperature up to 1360°C for routine operation. This provides considerable advantages to the synthesis of high-quality diamonds under ultra-high-pressure conditions with the same hydraulic rams.     

Vibrational dephasing in highly compressed liquid nitrogen studied with time-resolved stimulated raman gain spectroscopy

Abstract

In liquid nitrogen at 295 K we observe for the first time the minimum in the variation of the vibrational dephasing rate T^?1 ₂ with density at ρ = 2.15 × 10²². cm^?3. At higher densities the dephasing rate shows a steep rise with density. The observed behaviour shows good agreement with results of previously published molecular dynamics simulations.