Elasticity of MgO and a primary pressure scale to 55 GPa

We have studied the elasticity and pressure-density equation of state of MgO in diamond cells to 55 GPa and have doubled the previous pressure limit of accurate elasticity determinations for crystals. Integrating single-crystal velocity data from Brillouin scattering measurements and density data from polycrystalline x-ray diffraction, we obtained the three principal elastic tensor elements (C(11), C(12), and C(44)) and various secondary elasticity parameters, including single-crystal elastic anisotropy, Cauchy relation, aggregate sound velocities, and Poisson's ratio, as functions of pressure. The present study also provides a direct determination of pressure without recourse to any prior pressure standard, thus creating a primary pressure scale. The commonly used ruby fluorescence pressure scale has thus been improved to 1% accuracy by the new MgO scale.