Laboratory for Mineral Physics
In the University of Chicago’s Laboratory for Mineral Physics, diamond anvil cells are used to generate high pressure conditions comparable to those in the Earth’s mantle and core, even reaching >200 GPa and >5000 K.

The diamond anvils not only apply the pressure, but act as windows to the sample, allowing optical and X-ray access. The sample’s physical and chemical properties can be probed using a variety of laser spectroscopies and X-ray techniques.

Optical systems in the laboratory include a ruby fluorescence system for pressure measurement, a Raman spectroscopy system, and a 1064 nm laser heating system that subjects diamond anvil cell samples to >3000 K. Explore a virtual walkthrough of the lab to see more.

Our laser heating system includes ability to measure 2D temperature distributions across the laser heated spot (right). For many applications this is an important improvement over systems that measure only a single temperature at a time, or a 1D profile at best. The multispectral imaging system was described by Campbell (2008).

We are frequent users of the FIB-SEM facility located in our department. With this instrument we perform precise sectioning and chemical microanalysis of products from laser heated diamond anvil experiments.
Synchrotron x-ray sources are also an important tool in our research. We have been regular users of the Advanced Photon Source, the National Synchrotron Light Source II, and the Advanced Light Source.