Phase transition kinetics revealed in laser-heated dynamic diamond anvil cells

We report on a novel approach to dynamic compression of materials that bridges the gap between previous static- and dynamic- compression techniques, allowing to explore a wide range of pathways in the pressure-temperature space. By combining a dynamic-diamond anvil cell setup with double-sided laser-heating and in situ X-ray diffraction, we are able to perform dynamic compression at high temperature and characterize structural transitions with unprecedented time resolution. Using this method, we investigate the $\gamma-\epsilon$ phase transition of iron under dynamic compression for the first time, reaching compression rates of hundreds of GPa/s and temperatures of 2000 K. Our results demonstrate a distinct response of the $\gamma-\epsilon$ and $\alpha-\epsilon$ transitions to the high compression rates achieved. These findings open up new avenues to study tailored dynamic compression pathways in the pressure-temperature space and highlight the potential of this platform to capture kinetic effects in a diamond anvil cell.Comment: Reworked the text and figures to be more in line with the format of PR

Observation of Fundamental Mechanisms in Compression-Induced Phase Transformations Using Ultrafast X-ray Diffraction

As theoretically hypothesized for several decades in group IV transition metals, we have discovered a dynamically stabilized body-centered cubic (bcc) intermediate state in Zr under uniaxial loading at sub-nanosecond timescales. Under ultrafast shock wave compression, rather than the transformation from alpha-Zr to the more disordered hex-3 equilibrium omega-Zr phase, in its place we find the formation of a previously unobserved nonequilibrium bcc metastable intermediate. We probe the compression-induced phase transition pathway in zirconium using time-resolved sub-picosecond x-ray diffraction analysis at the Linac Coherent Light Source. We also present molecular dynamics simulations using a potential derived from first-principles methods which independently predict this intermediate phase under ultrafast shock conditions. In contrast with experiments on longer timescale (> 10 ns) where the phase diagram alone is an adequate predictor of the crystalline structure of a material, our recent study highlights the importance of metastability and time dependence in the kinetics of phase transformations

Ultrafast Radiographic Imaging and Tracking: An overview of instruments, methods, data, and applications

Ultrafast radiographic imaging and tracking (U-RadIT) use state-of-the-art ionizing particle and light sources to experimentally study sub-nanosecond dynamic processes in physics, chemistry, biology, geology, materials science and other fields. These processes, fundamental to nuclear fusion energy, advanced manufacturing, green transportation and others, often involve one mole or more atoms, and thus are challenging to compute by using the first principles of quantum physics or other forward models. One of the central problems in U-RadIT is to optimize information yield through, e.g. high-luminosity X-ray and particle sources, efficient imaging and tracking detectors, novel methods to collect data, and large-bandwidth online and offline data processing, regulated by the underlying physics, statistics, and computing power. We review and highlight recent progress in: a.) Detectors; b.) U-RadIT modalities; c.) Data and algorithms; and d.) Applications. Hardware-centric approaches to U-RadIT optimization are constrained by detector material properties, low signal-to-noise ratio, high cost and long development cycles of critical hardware components such as ASICs. Interpretation of experimental data, including comparisons with forward models, is frequently hindered by sparse measurements, model and measurement uncertainties, and noise. Alternatively, U-RadIT makes increasing use of data science and machine learning algorithms, including experimental implementations of compressed sensing. Machine learning and artificial intelligence approaches, refined by physics and materials information, may also contribute significantly to data interpretation, uncertainty quantification and U-RadIT optimization.Comment: 51 pages, 31 figures; Overview of ultrafast radiographic imaging and tracking as a part of ULITIMA 2023 conference, Mar. 13-16,2023, Menlo Park, CA, US

Pressure-temperature stability studies of FeOOH using x-ray diffraction

The Mie-Gruneisen formalism is used to fit a Birch-Murnaghan equation of state to high-temperature (T), high-pressure (P) X-ray diffraction unit-cell volume (V) measurements on synthetic goethite (alpha-FeOOH) to combined conditions of T = 23-250o C and P = 0-29.4 GPa. We find the zero-pressure thermal expansion coefficient of goethite to be alpha0 = 2.3 (+-0.6) x 10-5 K-1 over this temperature range. Our data yield zero-pressure compressional parameters: V0 = 138.75 (+- 0.02) Angstrom3, bulk modulus K0 = 140.3 (+- 3.7) GPa, pressure derivative K0' = 4.6 (+- 0.4), Gruneisen parameter gamma0 = 0.91 (+- 0.07), and Debye temperature Theta0 = 740 (+- 5) K. We identify decomposition conditions for 2alpha-FeOOH --> alpha-Fe2O3 + H2O at 1 - 8 GPa and 100-400oC, and the polymorphic transition from alpha-FeOOH (Pbnm) to epsilon-FeOOH (P21mn). The non-quenchable, high-pressure epsilon-FeOOH phase P-V data are fitted to a second-order (Birch) equation of state yielding, K0 = 158 (+- 5) GPa and V0 = 66.3 (+- 0.5) Angstrom3

High Pressure Brillouin Spectroscopy and X-ray Diffraction of Cerium Dioxide

Simultaneous high-pressure Brillouin spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction of cerium dioxide powders are presented at room temperature to a pressure of 45 GPa. Micro- and nanocrystalline powders are studied and the density, acoustic velocities and elastic moduli determined. In contrast to recent reports of anomalous compressibility and strength in nanocrystalline cerium dioxide, the acoustic velocities are found to be insensitive to grain size and enhanced strength is not observed in nanocrystalline CeO2. Discrepancies in the bulk moduli derived from Brillouin and powder X-ray diffraction studies suggest that the properties of CeO2 are sensitive to the hydrostaticity of its environment. Our Brillouin data give the shear modulus, G0 = 63 (3) GPa, and adiabatic bulk modulus, KS0 = 142 (9) GPa, which is considerably lower than the isothermal bulk modulus, KT0∼ 230 GPa, determined by high-pressure X-ray diffraction experiments

The Resistive-heating characterization of laser heating system and LaB₆ characterization of X-ray diffraction of beamline 12.2.2 at advanced light source

X-ray diffraction from LaB₆ standards document a precision of 478 ppm in lattice-parameter determinations for beamline 12.2.2 at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory′s Advanced Light Source, a facility for characterizing materials at high pressures and temperatures using laser- and resistance-heated diamond cells. Melting of Ni, Mo, Pt and W, resistively heated at 1 atm pressure in Ar, provides a validation of the beamline spectroradiometric system that is used to determine sample temperatures. The known melting temperatures, which range from 1665 to 3860 K for these metals, are all reproduced to within ±80 K.4 page(s

Single-Shot Multi-Frame Imaging of Cylindrical Shock Waves in a Multi-Layered Assembly

Abstract We demonstrate single-shot multi-frame imaging of quasi-2D cylindrically converging shock waves as they propagate through a multi-layer target sample assembly. We visualize the shock with sequences of up to 16 images, using a Fabry-Perot cavity to generate a pulse train that can be used in various imaging configurations. We employ multi-frame shadowgraph and dark-field imaging to measure the amplitude and phase of the light transmitted through the shocked target. Single-shot multi-frame imaging tracks geometric distortion and additional features in our images that were not previously resolvable in this experimental geometry. Analysis of our images, in combination with simulations, shows that the additional image features are formed by a coupled wave structure resulting from interface effects in our targets. This technique presents a new capability for tabletop imaging of shock waves that can be extended to experiments at large-scale facilities

Geophysics Field Camp 2002

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has been studying the water resources in the vicinity of Fort Huachuca, Arizona. As a part of this study, they contracted an Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) survey of the region, which was flown in 1997. During the spring semester of 2002, the University of Arizona Geophysics Field Camp class conducted Transient Electromagnetic (TEM) surveys at five locations near AEM flight lines in order to provide an independent test of the resistivity structure. We used 100 X 100 m transmitting loops. A central induction loop array was employed where the transient decay voltage after transmitter turn off was recorded in the center of the transmitter loop. The TEM data were inverted using a smooth modeling program from Zonge Engineering. The resulting apparent resistivity cross sections, in general, showed a resisitivity structure that was similar to the AEM cross sections down to the depth of the investigation of the TEM survey (approximately 200 m). The surface layers (zero to 50 meters) showed high resistivity (30 to 300 ohm-m) and deeper layers showed lower resistivities (10- 30 ohm meters). We also recorded low-induction number (LIN) EM surveys over a sink hole feature in this area. There was a pronounced conductivity high coincident with the sinkhole. Background conductivity readings were typically 10-15 mS/m and over the sinkhole feature the conductivity readings were typically 20-25 mS/m.The Geophysics Field Camp Reports are made available by the Laboratory for Advanced Subsurface Imaging (LASI) and the University of Arizona Libraries. Visit the LASI website for more information http://www.lasi.arizona.edu