title: Nature of the polyamorphic transition in ice under pressure.
abstract: We present a neutron diffraction study of the transition between low-density and high-density amorphous ice (LDA and HDA, respectively) under pressure at approximately 0.3 GPa, at 130 K. All the intermediate diffraction patterns can be accurately decomposed into a linear combination of the patterns of pure LDA and HDA. This progressive transformation of one distinct phase to another, with phase coexistence at constant pressure and temperature, gives direct evidence of a classical first-order transition. In situ Raman measurements and visual observation of the reverse transition strongly support these conclusions, which have implications for models of water and the proposed second critical point in the undercooled region of liquid water.
authors.affiliation: Physique des Milieux Denses, IMPMC, CNRS-UMR 7590, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, F-75252 Paris, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klotz
authors.forename: Th
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Strässle
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Nelmes
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Loveday
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hamel
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rousse
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Canny
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chervin
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Saitta