Combined high pressure and heavy‐ion irradiation: a novel approach

Swift heavy‐ion irradiations of a wide variety of materials have been used to modify and manipulate the properties of solids at the nanoscale. Recently, these high‐energy irradiations have been successfully combined with high‐pressure experiments. Based on results obtained for zircon (ZrSiO₄), this paper introduces this new experimental approach involving diamond anvil cells and large ion‐accelerator facilities. This technique provides a wide spectrum of geoscience applications from nanoscale simulations of fission‐track formation under crustal conditions to phase transitions of radiation‐damaged minerals resulting from meteorite impact.