High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK)
University of Tsukuba
Osaka University
RIKEN
Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI)
Abstract
A laser shock experiment at SACLA has been conducted on the mineral zircon by a research group led by Sota Takagi at the Institute for Materials Structure Science of the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) in collaboration with the University of Tsukuba, Osaka University, RIKEN, and JASRI.
Crystal structure dynamics was observed using a bright XFEL pulse during the nanosecond timescale of a laser-driven shock. A phase transformation to high-pressure reidite was observed, but decomposition of zircon (ZrSiO4) to SiO2 and ZrO2 was not observed. The result is different from the phase dynamics when the mineral is exposed to high pressure and high temperature for a long time. The time effect on mineral dynamics was demonstrated in this study.
The results were published in the journal Physics and Chemistry of Minerals on May 3rd, 2022.
Please refer to the press release for details.