High-pressure powder neutron diffraction measurements using PE cell at JRR

Arima, Hiroshi; Komatsu, Kazuki*; Kagi, Hiroyuki*; Okuchi, Takuo*; Sasaki, Shigeo*; Yamauchi, Hiroki   ; Fukazawa, Hiroshi; Igawa, Naoki   ; Utsumi, Wataru; Kamiyama, Takashi*

For the forward planning of high-pressure neutron diffraction study, it is meaningful to consider the use of Paris-Edinburgh (PE) high pressure cells. We conducted a first experiment for high-P powder diffraction using PE cells on the high resolution powder diffractometer (HRPD) in the reactor neutron source: JRR-3. Lead particle (Nilaco Co., 99.9999%), which has a relatively high scattering length and low absorption for neutron, was used as a sample in order to obtain the intensity data as efficient as possible. A couple of cubic BN anvils and a TiZr null metal gasket were used in order to avoid scattering from surrounding materials. The intensities of a 111 reflection, which is the strongest peak in lead sample, are 250 counts/h at ambient pressure and 80 counts/h at 30 tonnes. The pressure estimated by the obtained lattice constants at 30 tonnes was 2.9(1) GPa. These results allows us to estimate how long beam time is necessary for the potential experiments.