Abstract
We have designed and constructed a new system for loading gases at high pressure into diamond anvil cells at pressures up to 200 MPa. The gases are used either as quasi-hydrostatic pressure media surrounding the sample or as the sample itself. The diamond cell is sealed using a clamping mechanism, which permits nearly any type of diamond anvil cell to be used. Online ruby fluorescence and video imaging systems allow in situ monitoring of the pressure and gasket deformation as the cell is sealed, resulting in a very high success rate in loading cells. The system includes interlocks and computer control that allow it to be safely and easily operated by visiting users at the Advanced Photon Source. We present preliminary X-ray diffraction data on volume compression of single-crystal magnesium oxide (MgO) in helium up to 110 GPa.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank S. Sinogeikin for useful discussion, and N. Lazarz, F. Sopron, E. LaRue and G. Macha for technical support. Mati Meron helped with the safety analysis, and P.Dera was very helpful in commissioning of the system. This research was partially supported by COMPRES, the Consortium for Materials Properties Research in Earth Sciences under NSF Cooperative Agreement EAR 06-49658. It was also supported by GeoSoilEnviroCARS (Sector 13), Advanced Photon Source (APS), Argonne National Laboratory. GeoSoilEnviroCARS is supported by the National Science Foundation - Earth Sciences (EAR-0622171) and Department of Energy - Geosciences (DE-FG02-94ER14466). S.D. Jacobsen and C.M. Holl are supported in part by NSF EAR-0721449. Use of the Advanced Photon Source was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357.