A laser heating facility for energy-dispersive X-ray absorption spectroscopy.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• High-Pressure Physics
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Studying materials under extreme conditions (high pressure and temperature) is crucial for understanding planetary interiors and developing new materials.
• Diamond anvil cells (DACs) are key tools for generating such extreme conditions.
• Energy-dispersive X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) provides valuable insights into material structure and electronic properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel double-sided laser heating setup for diamond anvil cells.
• To adapt the setup for energy-dispersive X-ray absorption spectroscopic (XAS) studies.
• To demonstrate the facility's capability in probing materials under extreme pressure and temperature.

Main Methods:

• Installation of a double-sided laser heating system on the ID24 beamline at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF).
• Utilizing energy-dispersive X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) for in-situ analysis.
• Conducting experiments on metallic nickel at pressures up to 60 GPa.

Main Results:

• The developed setup successfully facilitated XAS studies under extreme conditions.
• The melting onset temperature of metallic nickel at 60 GPa was determined.
• Quantitative data on the structural parameters of nickel's first coordination shell up to melting were obtained.

Conclusions:

• The double-sided laser heating setup is effective for XAS studies of materials under extreme pressure and temperature.
• The facility provides a powerful tool for investigating phase transitions and structural evolution in materials.
• This research advances the capability to explore material behavior in scientifically significant extreme environments.