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Identification of Phase Transitions and Metastability in Dynamically Compressed Antimony Using Ultrafast X-Ray
A L Coleman1,2, M G Gorman1,2, R Briggs1,2
1SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, and Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, United Kingdom.
Physical Review Letters
|July 27, 2019
Summary
Ultrafast x-ray diffraction revealed new high-pressure phases of antimony (Sb) under shock compression. The study identified novel structural transformations and phase behaviors occurring on nanosecond timescales.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- High-Pressure Physics
Background:
- Antimony (Sb) exhibits complex structural behavior under pressure.
- Understanding Sb phase transitions is crucial for materials science.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structural dynamics of antimony under shock compression.
- To resolve phase transitions and identify new high-pressure phases of Sb.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing ultrafast x-ray diffraction at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) x-ray free electron laser.
- Applying shock compression techniques up to 59 GPa.
- Analyzing diffraction patterns to determine crystal structures.
Main Results:
- Observed transformation to the incommensurate Sb-II phase at ~11 GPa, forming ordered guest-atom chains on nanosecond timescales.
- Identified the high-pressure bcc phase Sb-III above ~15 GPa, ~8 GPa lower than in static studies.
- Detected a novel phase, Sb-I', between 8-12 GPa, exhibiting a Peierls distortion, and mixed Sb-III/liquid diffraction above 38 GPa.
- Confirmed metastable recovery of the incommensurate Sb-II phase at ambient pressure, stable for over 10 ns.
Conclusions:
- Shock compression reveals distinct high-pressure structural behaviors in antimony compared to static compression.
- The study elucidates the formation mechanisms and stability of novel antimony phases under extreme conditions.
- Ultrafast x-ray diffraction is a powerful tool for probing dynamic phase transitions in materials.
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