In situ X-ray observation of minerals and melts using Kawai-type multianvil apparatus combined with synchrotron radiation, and its applications to mineral physics

Abstract

Multianvil apparatus, which is used for pressure generation in a single-stage and a double-stage (Kawai-type apparatus), has been used for high pressure and temperature generation, combined with the synchrotron radiation at Photon Factory of High Energy Acceleration Research Organization (KEK) and SPring-8 at JASRI. The Kawai anvil apparatus using sintered diamond anvils has been developed for a routine use for in situ X-ray observation at pressures above 30 GPa and high temperature. This system has been used for various studies on mineral physics, including determination of the phase boundaries of the mantle minerals, PVT relations, reaction kinetics studies of the major phase transformations in the mantle by in situ X-ray diffraction study, and viscosity measurement of the melts by in situ X-ray radiography.

Keywords:

• Kawai-type apparatus
• Multiavil
• In situ X-ray observation
• Sintered dimond
• Phase boundary
• Kinetics of phase transformation
• Viscosity
• Radiography

Acknowledgements

The author appreciates T. Kubo, A. Suzuki, T. Hosoya, K. Litasov, and A. Sano (Tohoku University), and K. Funakoshi (JASRI), S. Urakawa (Okayama University) T. Kikegawa (Photon Factory) for their continuous collaboration during the in situ X-ray observations using the Kawai-type apparatus at SPring-8 and Photon Factory. The multianvil systems have been established by continuous efforts by many high pressure scientists including O. Shimomura (JAERI), T. Yagi (ISSP, University of Tokyo), T. Kato (Kyushu University), K. Funamori (University of Tokyo), M. O. Ohtaka (Osaka University), K. Funakoshi (JASRI), W. Utsuimi (JAERI), T. Irifune (GRC, Ehime University) and T. Katsura (ISEI, Okayama University). The author sincerely appreciates these people for their continuous efforts for improving the systems.