Density and structural changes of silicate glasses under high pressure

ABSTRACT

Density and structural changes of matter in their liquid or amorphous form, such as silicates melts, molecular fluids, or glasses, are of extreme importance to model the interior of planetary bodies. However, measuring the evolution of amorphous materials under extreme conditions of pressure and temperature remains challenging mainly because of the sample dimensions and the weak interaction with X-ray probes. This contribution highlights recent developments to measure the density of amorphous material, mainly silicate glasses made of light elements, to high pressure conditions. In particular, the X-ray absorption method at synchrotron sources is discussed as a new opportunity for high pressure experiments on glasses, fluids, and melts. Recent achievements using X-ray Raman scattering spectroscopy to obtain data on the local electronic environment of the main constituents of silicate glasses at high pressure are also presented. Finally, perspectives of these recent developments are discussed as well as their potential for high pressure research in the next years.