High-pressure cell for neutron diffraction with in situ pressure control at cryogenic temperatures.
Pressure generation at cryogenic temperatures presents a problem for a wide array of experimental techniques, particularly neutron studies due to the volume of sample required. We present a novel, compact pressure cell with a large sample volume in which load is generated by a bellow. Using a supply of helium gas up to a pressure of 350 bar, a load of up to 78 kN is generated with leak-free operation. In addition, special fiber ports added to the cryogenic center stick allow for in situ pressure determination using the ruby pressure standard. Mechanical stability was assessed using finite element analysis and the dimensions of the cell have been optimized for use with standard cryogenic equipment. Load testing and on-line experiments using NaCl and BiNiO3 have been done at the WISH instrument of the ISIS pulsed neutron source to verify performance.
School of Engineering and CSEC, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Matthew K
MK
Jacobsen
School of Engineering and CSEC, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Christopher J
CJ
Ridley
School of Engineering and CSEC, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Artur
A
Bocian
ISIS, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Oxford, United Kingdom.
Oleg
O
Kirichek
ISIS, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Oxford, United Kingdom.
Pascal
P
Manuel
ISIS, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Oxford, United Kingdom.
Dmitry
D
Khalyavin
Materials and Structures Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan.
Masaki
M
Azuma
School of Chemistry and CSEC, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
J Paul
JP
Attfield
School of Engineering and CSEC, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Konstantin V
KV
Kamenev