HIGH PRESSURE TECHNIQUES FOR LOW TEMPERATURE STUDIES IN DC AND PULSED MAGNETIC FIELDS

Abstract

Pressure can be used to expand the parameter space available in almost any experiment and allows for the continuous tuning of the electrical and orbital properties of a material. When combined with low temperatures and high magnetic fields, it becomes a powerful tool for the exploration of the band structure and defect levels in semiconductors, exotic transport mechanisms in molecular conductors, and the coexistence of magnetism and superconductivity. We have developed a variety of miniature pressure cells to allow the user to take full advantage of these opportunities. Metallic diamond anvil cells as small as 6 mm in diameter and 8 mm in height allow the sample to be rotated in field at millikelvin temperatures. Miniature plastic DACs and sapphire ball cells, rotators, and specialized He-4 and He-3 systems have also been developed to provide similar experimental capabilities in pulsed magnetic fields. Methods and designs to generate hydrostatic pressure and techniques to perform optical and electrical measurements in DC and pulsed fields will be presented. We would like to acknowledge the technical assistance of Richard Desilets, Howard Kolb, John Farrell, and Mike Pacheco. A portion of this work was performed at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, which is sponsored by NSF Cooperative Agreement No. DMR-9527035 and by the State of Florida.