Laser-heated diamond anvil cell system for photochemical reaction measurements

A laser heating system constructed for photochemical reaction within a diam ond anvil cell features a tunable pulsed laser and an excimer laser ranging from ultraviolet to infrared in a continuous-wave Nd:yttrium-aluminum-garn et laser heating system. Pulse duration is measured during experiments usin g a high-speed photoreceiver and pulse modes are measured by a beam profile r. High-purity synthetic diamond with high ultraviolet transmittance are us ed to avoid damaging the anvils. Decomposition of silver iodide by an excim er laser irradiation is confirmed under high pressure. This laser technolog y will, combined with high-pressure experiments, open up avenues in photoch emical reaction processes. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.