The SrB4O7:Sm2+ optical sensor and the pressure homogeneization through thermal cycles in diamond anvil cells

Abstract

Preliminary results, up to 550 kbar, on a thermal-cycling relaxation process of the 4.Methanol-1.Ethanol pressure-transmitting medium, are presented. The homogeneization is monitored by linewidth measurements of the ⁵D₀-⁷F₀ emission line of SrB₄O₇:Sm²⁺, recently proposed as an “almost ideal” high pressure calibrant. Above 100 kbar at 20°C, the line broadens linearly with increaisng pressure. Upon heating, at a fixed pressure, the linewidth is reduced to a minimum (“hydrostatic”) value provided a sufficient temperature is reached and this narrowing is irreversible upon cooling. For T=300°C this relaxation is observed for P (250 kbar, incomplete at 340 kbar and not observed at 550 kbar.