Coupling a gas gun with an X-pinch x-ray source to perform x-ray diffraction under shock loading.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Shock Physics

Background:

• X-ray diffraction is crucial for studying crystalline materials under extreme conditions like shock loading.
• Previous shock-compression studies using X-ray diffraction were limited to large-scale facilities.
• Investigating shock-induced phase transitions requires precise temporal and spatial resolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a laboratory-scale X-ray diffraction technique for in situ analysis of shock-loaded materials.
• To demonstrate the capability of this method for observing dynamic phase transitions.
• To synchronize X-ray emission with the shock wave arrival for accurate data acquisition.

Main Methods:

• Coupling an X-pinch X-ray generator with a single-stage gas gun to create a laboratory-scale setup.
• Utilizing a short (sub-100 ns) polychromatic X-ray flash for high temporal resolution.
• Performing X-ray diffraction in reflection at the sample-anvil interface for homogeneous pressure.
• Implementing a synchronized trigger system based on shock wave travel time.

Main Results:

• Successful synchronization between X-ray emission and shock wave arrival was achieved.
• In situ X-ray diffraction patterns of shock-loaded tin revealed the solid-solid phase transition from β to γ phases.
• Observed disappearance of the parent phase (β-tin) and emergence of the daughter phase (γ-tin) diffraction peaks.

Conclusions:

• The developed laboratory-scale X-ray diffraction technique is effective for studying shock-induced phase transitions in crystalline materials.
• This method provides a viable alternative to large-scale facilities for dynamic material analysis.
• The successful observation of tin's β-γ phase transition validates the technique's precision and synchronization capabilities.