Measuring temperature and observing graphitization of heavy-ion-heated diamond
J Lütgert1, P Hesselbach2,3, A Bergermann4,5
1Institut für Physik, Universität Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Str. 23, 18059, Rostock, Germany. julian.luetgert@uni-rostock.de.
Scientific Reports
|July 6, 2026
Summary
Heavy-ion beams were used to heat diamond, bridging rapid energy deposition and thermal methods. Researchers observed graphitization, indicating a transition to graphite under specific heating conditions.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Solid State Physics
- Plasma Physics
Background:
- Graphitization of diamond is crucial for applications like nanodiamond synthesis and detector materials.
- Diamond graphitization can be initiated by rapid energy deposition or thermal methods above 1800 K.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the intermediate regime of diamond graphitization using volumetric heating.
- Explore graphitization mechanisms between rapid energy deposition and thermal transitions.
Main Methods:
- Volumetric heating of monocrystalline diamond using a heavy-ion beam.
- Probing the sample with X-ray radiation from a laser-driven titanium plasma.
- Measuring bulk temperature via the ratio of elastic to inelastic X-ray scattering.
Main Results:
- X-ray temperature measurements agreed with stopping power simulations up to ~2000 K.
- Increased heating led to stronger elastic X-ray scattering than expected for heated diamond.
- X-ray diffraction showed modified diamond peaks and altered optical properties, consistent with graphitization.
Conclusions:
- The observed phenomena suggest a thermally induced transition to graphite.
- Heavy-ion beam heating provides a method to study intermediate graphitization regimes.
- This research offers insights into diamond's phase transitions under extreme conditions.
