For the investigation of samples under extreme temperatures, hydrostatic, clamp, and diamond anvil cells are available for a wide range of pressures. Gas handling systems are available for in-situ measurements with many types of gases.
Policy for the provision of diamond anvil cells (DACs) at the SNAP Beamline
- The need of a Diamond Anvil Cell (DAC) has to be explicitly requested in the beamtime proposal, otherwise the provision of a DAC cannot be guaranteed.
- Users must contact the instrument team as soon as possible (minimum 8 weeks) prior to the beamtime to discuss details of the experiment.
- Users should arrive well in advance for the experiment (typically 2-3 days) and always a full day before beamtime starts.
- Standard SNAP DACs are provided.
- One DAC will be provided per beamtime visit. Its use is solely for the completion of the proposed experiment. Provided that adequate resources and components are available, a second DAC might be available, contingent upon instrument staff approval.
- Samples need to be available at least a week prior to the beamtime to allow for the preparation of the DAC as soon as resources are available.
- In special cases, samples may be requested at the beginning of the cycle for feasibility assessment. Beamtime scheduling may be contingent on those results.
- A successful loading is not guaranteed, especially on the first attempt.
- Unsuccessful preparations may lead to cancellation of the beamtime, and the user should resubmit the (modified) proposal.
- Alternatively, the beamtime can go ahead if there is an approved alternate sample added to the proposal. - Various pressure-transmitting media are available; gas loading has to be requested preferably in the beamtime proposal. It should always be discussed in advance.
- Staff members that make significant contributions for the preparation of the cell and sample loading should be co-authors of any publication resulting from the experiment.
- Any decision regarding any issue that affects the safety of the equipment ultimately lies with the instrument staff.
- The equipment has to be operated under the health and safety rules provided and the advice of the instrument staff must be followed.