High pressure cell for use on four-circle diffractometers

Abstract

High pressure cells with « opposed anvils », especially suited for the conditions on four-circle diffractometers in X-ray and neutron single crystal experiments have been developed. An important feature of these devices is the application of gaskets permeable to the radiation used. By this the pressure cell can well be adapted to the diffracting geometry on four-circle diffractometers so that particularly few reflections are shadowed by parts of the cell. The large probe volume (2 mm diameter x 2 mm height) necessary for neutron experiments has restricted the pressure achieved with this cell to 20 kbar so far. Despite small volumes and diamond anvils the cell for the X-ray case is limited to 35 kbar by the possible choice of the gasket material : practically, only beryllium can be used for this purpose