Detection of a Pressure-Induced Liquid ⇌ Solid Phase Transformation by Measuring Sound Velocity in a Multi-Anvil Apparatus

Timothy Officer and Richard Secco, University of Western Ontario, Earth Sciences, London, ON, Canada

Contact First Author: Timothy Officer; officer@cars.uchicago.edu

Previously Published Material: A samll portion (~20%) of this presentation was presented at the 2013 AGU fall meeting. These findings are currently under review.

Abstract ID#: 35334

 

English Abstract:
A technique for detecting and measuring phase transitions in a multi-anvil apparatus by measuring the change in longitudinal sound velocity as a function of pressure is reported. The system measures the time for pulsed ultrasonic signals to travel through a high pressure assembly with a sample in the center. Upon phase change from liquid to solid, the sound velocity shows an abrupt increase due to the intrinsic increase of velocity in the sample and a reduced delay between the triggering of an amplitude threshold and the arrival of the waveform. As a proof of concept, results are shown for Hg as it undergoes pressure-induced liquid ⇌ solid transitions at room temperature.
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