Angle-dispersive neutron diffraction under high pressure to 10GPa

Abstract

We present a method which allows high-quality powder neutron diffraction patterns to be obtained under pressure by angle-dispersive diffraction to at least 10GPa. This technique uses a new type of Paris–Edinburgh press in conjunction with sintered boron nitride anvils. As an example, we show NiO diffraction patterns obtained under purely hydrostatic pressures up to 10GPa. These data were collected within a few hours, and are free from any contaminating signal from the pressure cell. High-resolution nuclear and magnetic structural information can be readily extracted by Rietveld refinements, without additional data correction. This technique will allow powder neutron diffraction at elevated pressures to become a standard tool on continuous neutron facilities.