High Pressure Experiments using Diamond Anvil Cells

A diamond anvil cell (DAC) is a device for subjecting materials to high pressure. Samples are squeezed between two brilliant cut diamonds and constrained laterally within a small hole (< 100 microns diameter) in a metal gasket located between them. The diamond’s shape applies a large force over a small unit area. Because diamonds are transparent to visible and infrared light, and transmit high energy X-rays, the contents of the DAC can be examined using a wide variety of experimental techniques. DACs are used on the SRS for X-ray diffraction and spectroscopy experiments, carried out on crystalline powders or single crystals.

The diamond anvil cell is a simple device for studying materials under high pressure. A DAC is capable of generating pressures almost as great as those found at the centre of the Earth. Offline facilities available for preparation of DACs and for diffraction studies include a spectrometer for ruby fluorescence measurements (which calibrate the pressure inside the cell), image plate scanner (for reading the diffraction pattern recorded on X-ray sensitive image plates), spark eroder (for gasket preparation), optical microscopes, and computing facilities for data processing.

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