Development of High-Pressure X-Ray Diffraction and the Study of the Earth's Deep Interior

Abstract

  In this article, history of the development of high-pressure X-ray diffraction experiments combined with synchrotron radiation and advances of the study of the Earth's deep interior are reviewed. In 1970s, pressure range for high-pressure and high-temperature X-ray diffraction was limited to only a few GPa but now it is possible to get high quality data even above 300 GPa and we can study the behavior of materials under the entire conditions of the Earth's interior. A future plan for the study using neutron diffraction is also introduced.