Time-Resolved X-ray Diffraction and Electrical Resistance Measurements of Structural Phase Transitions in Zirconium

We have designed a portable pressure controller module to tune compression rates and maximum pressures attainable in a standard gas-membrane diamond anvil cell (DAC). During preliminary experiments, performed on zirconium (Zr) metal sample, pressure jumps of 80 GPa or higher were systematically obtained in less than 0.2s (400GPa/s). In-situ x-ray diffraction and electrical resistance measurements were performed simultaneously during this rapid pressure increase to provide the first time resolved data on $\alpha $ $\to \quad \omega \quad \to \quad \beta $ structural evolution in Zr at high pressures. Direct control of compression rates and peak pressures, which can be held for prolonged time, allows for investigation of structural evolution and kinetics of structural phase transitions of materials under previously unexplored compression rate-pressure conditions that bridge traditional static and shock/dynamic experimental platforms.