Upgrading of USSA-2000 Multi-anvil facility

Suny At Stony Brook, Stony Brook NY

Investigators

Abstract

EAR-0447135 Weidner The USSA-2000, a Kawai-type multi-anvil high-pressure apparatus, is a vital element in the Stony Brook high pressure laboratory. The driving intellectual merit of the proposed work includes the continuation of the following projects: acoustic velocity measurements at high pressure and temperature, diffusion studies, phase equilibria studies, polycrystal synthesis for elasticity measurements, polycrystal synthesis for rheology measurements, and single crystal synthesis for structure and elasticity measurements. This award will permit the replacement of the first stage anvils and upgrade the hydraulic pumping system. We utilize an anvil design that will accommodate the entire 2000 tons of the loading frame, whereas the current anvils limit the maximum force to 1200 tons. The new pumping system will allow automatic loading and unloading, thus saving operator time and limiting operator error. The broader impact of the proposed development include: graduate student education as part of research projects, undergraduate education as it is highly used in our REU summer program, support of research projects for the science community on a 'at cost' basis. The expanded force capability will give the US community access to a larger force - hence larger volume at-the-same pressure apparatus than is currently available. This has proven quite useful with the 5000 ton apparatus at Bayreuth. While the current system is at a lower force, it is an economical upgrade that at least uses the full capacity of the existing loading system.