X-ray diffraction study under pressure using an imaging plate (abstract)

Abstract

Synchrotron radiation (SR) has been proved to be a powerful tool for x-ray study under pressure. So far, an energy dispersive method has been used because the intensity of the monochromatized beam is not strong enough for the very small sample under pressure, even if SR is used. In order to perform an angle-dispersive method under pressure, we need to use one- or two-dimensional detectors. Recently, a photostimulable fluorescence plate, named an imaging plate (IP), has been successfully used as an x-ray detector at the Photon Factory. We tried to combine a diamond anvil cell with SR and IP. Exposure time on IP for the diffraction from Ag in a diamond anvil cell at 22 keV is shorter than that on an x-ray film by a factor of 50. Resolution of IP (180 μm) is not a severe problem where IP is apart from the sample by 150 mm. Data on IP are digitally treated, so that it is easy to integrate the intensity along the Debye ring. Then, the reliability becomes more than 10 times better than a one-dimensional scan. Accuracy in determination of lattice constants and integrated intensity will be presented.