Clamp cell with in situ pressure monitoring for low-temperature neutron scattering measurements

ABSTRACT

A clamp pressure cell for neutron scattering experiments at low temperatures and in external magnetic fields under pressure up to 2 GPa has been fabricated and tested. The cell provides optical access to the sample space that allows instantaneous pressure determination during sample loading, cooling and measuring using ruby and/or samarium doped strontium tetraborate fluorescence monitoring. A new calibration curve of the pressure-induced shift of the ${}^7{D}_0{-}^5{F}_0$ (0-0) line in the fluorescent spectrum of SrB${}_4$O${}_7$:Sm${}^{2+}$ for moderate pressures, $P\le 2$ GPa, is given.

KEYWORDS:

• neutron scattering
• pressure measurements
• clamp cell
• fluorescence

Acknowledgments

This research used resources at the Spallation Neutron Source and the High Flux Isotope Reactor, a DOE Office of Science User Facility operated by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

A. Podlesnyak http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9366-6319

M. Lumsden http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5472-9660

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by DOE Office of Science User Facility.