Nature of the polyamorphic transition in ice under pressure

We present a neutron diffraction study of the transition between low-density and high-density amorphous ice (LDA and HDA, respectively) under pressure at approximately 0.3 GPa, at 130 K. All the intermediate diffraction patterns can be accurately decomposed into a linear combination of the patterns of pure LDA and HDA. This progressive transformation of one distinct phase to another, with phase coexistence at constant pressure and temperature, gives direct evidence of a classical first-order transition. In situ Raman measurements and visual observation of the reverse transition strongly support these conclusions, which have implications for models of water and the proposed second critical point in the undercooled region of liquid water.