Laser heated diamond anvil apparatus at the Photon Factory and SPring-8: Problems and improvements

Two high pressure high temperature in situ x-ray diffraction systems constr ucted at the Photon Factory and at SPring-8 are described. Both systems con sist of a laser heated diamond anvil cell, CO2 or YAG laser heating systems , and an angle dispersive powder x-ray diffraction system with an imaging p late detector. CO2 laser heating has an advantage in that the sample can be heated stably and uniformly due to stable absorption of the sample. Use of type-IIa diamond, however, caused plastic deformation of the anvils. YAG l aser heating, compared to CO2 laser heating, can be used to much higher pre ssures and temperatures, although a good control system is required for sta ble heating. Various problems encountered during construction are discussed . (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.