REU Project 2

REU Project 2

Synchrotron X-Ray Diffraction Studies at Argonne National Laboratory and Brookhaven National Laboratory
(Faculty Mentor – Dr. Yogesh Vohra)

We have beam-time allocations at the X-17C beamline at the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) and beamline GSECARS, Sector 13 at the Advanced Photon Source (APS) for structural studies at high pressure. In this REU project, a student will prepare a sample for diamond anvil cell studies mixed with a pressure standard like copper or platinum for energy dispersive x-ray diffraction at high pressure. Prior to synchrotron trip, student will be taking a 2-week course on x-ray diffraction so he/she can understand fundamentals of diffraction and crystallography of simple metals. Project will conclude with student measuring pressure-volume relationship curve up to pressure of 50 GPa. REU-student Nenad Velisavljevic has published research on a similar project with a research stay of 5 days at NSLS, Brookhaven National Laboratory [3].