Science at extreme conditions

Both academic and industrial researchers want to know how materials behave under extreme conditions of pressure, temperature or in high magnetic fields, for example, in studies of the Earth’s core or in a nuclear fusion reactor. These studies are also critical to understand how materials behave in their real environment (e..g a catalyst at high pressure and temperature). The ESRF already provides such world-leading facilities but will upgrade and extend them to meet future experimental demands.

Experiments at high pressures

The ESRF specialises in providing facilities for carrying out investigations of samples at extremely high pressures of the scale found in planetary cores. Upgraded, dedicated experimental stations, using high-energy X-rays in tightly focused beams and equipped with state-of-the-art pressure cells, will enable the study of materials, perhaps of geological interest, over a range of pressures and temperatures not previously accessible.

Example: Illustration of a diamond-anvil cell. Diamonds are used to provide a transparent pressure-transmitting medium. A new range of pressure cells will be developed within the Upgrade permitting access to high-pressures for a greater diversity of experiment types.

Experiments with high magnetic fields

A suite of beamlines will be developed allowing samples of novel electronic materials such as superconductors and exotic magnetic structures to be manipulated and studied in magnetic fields that are about four times higher (40 tesla) than currently available. When combined with very low temperatures (down to 1K) and high pressures, their often intriguing quantum behaviour can be probed over a wide range of conditions. Pulsed magnetic fields of up to 60 tesla and polarised X-ray beams will also be available.

Applications

• Nuclear energy
• Ceramic processing
• Planetary science and geoscience
• Superconductivity
• Novel electronic processing and magnetic storage devices
• Quantum computing