Editing Diamond anvil cell (section)

==Components==
There are many different DAC designs but all have four main components:

===Force-generating device===
Relies on the operation of either a [[lever]] arm, tightening [[screw (simple machine)|screw]]s, or [[pneumatic]] or [[hydraulic]] [[pressure]] applied to a membrane. In all cases the [[force]] is [[uniaxial]] and is applied to the tables (bases) of the two anvils.

===Two opposing diamond anvils===
Made of high [[Gemstone|gem]] quality, flawless diamonds, usually with 16 [[facet]]s, they typically weigh {{frac|1|8}} to {{frac|1|3}}&nbsp;[[Carat (unit)|carat]] (25 to 70&nbsp;mg). The culet (tip) is ground and polished to a hexadecagonal surface parallel to the table. The culets of the two [[diamond]]s face one another, and must be perfectly [[parallel (geometry)|parallel]] in order to produce uniform [[pressure]] and to prevent dangerous [[Strain (materials science)|strains]]. Specially selected anvils are required for specific measurements – for example, low diamond absorption and luminescence is required in corresponding experiments.

===Gasket===
A [[gasket]] used in a diamond anvil cell experiment is a thin metal foil, typically 0.3&nbsp;mm in thickness, which is placed in between the diamonds. Desirable materials for gaskets are strong, stiff metals such as [[rhenium]] or [[tungsten]]. [[Steel]] is frequently used as a cheaper alternative for low pressure experiments. The above-mentioned materials cannot be used in radial geometries where the [[x-ray]] beam must pass through the gasket. Since they are not transparent to X-rays, if X-ray illumination through the gasket is required, lighter materials such as [[beryllium]], [[boron nitride]],<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Funamori |first1=N. |last2=Sato |first2=T. |year=2008 |title=A cubic boron nitride gasket for diamond-anvil experiments |journal=Review of Scientific Instruments |volume=79 |issue=5 |pages=053903–053903–5 |bibcode=2008RScI...79e3903F |doi=10.1063/1.2917409 |pmid=18513075|doi-access=free }}</ref> [[boron]]<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lin |first1=Jung-Fu |last2=Shu |first2=Jinfu |last3=Mao |first3=Ho-Kwang |last4=Hemley |first4=Russell J. |last5=Shen |first5=Guoyin |s2cid=30321856 |year=2003 |title=Amorphous boron gasket in diamond anvil cell research |journal=Review of Scientific Instruments |volume=74 |issue=11 |page=4732 |bibcode=2003RScI...74.4732L |doi=10.1063/1.1621065 }}</ref> or [[diamond]]<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Zou |first1=Guangtian |last2=Ma |first2=Yanzhang |last3=Mao |first3=Ho-Kwang |last4=Hemley |first4=Russell J. |last5=Gramsch |first5=Stephen A. |year=2001 |title=A diamond gasket for the laser-heated diamond anvil cell |journal=Review of Scientific Instruments |volume=72 |issue=2 |page=1298 |bibcode=2001RScI...72.1298Z |doi=10.1063/1.1343864}}</ref> are used as a gasket. Gaskets are preindented by the diamonds and a hole is drilled in the center of the indentation to create the sample chamber.

===Pressure-transmitting medium===
The [[pressure]] transmitting medium is the [[compressible]] fluid that fills the sample chamber and transmits the applied [[force]] to the sample. [[Hydrostatic pressure]] is preferred for [[high-pressure]] experiments because variation in strain throughout the sample can lead to distorted observations of different behaviors. In some experiments stress and strain relationships are investigated and the effects of non-hydrostatic forces are desired. A good [[pressure]] medium will remain a soft, [[compressible]] fluid to [[high pressure]].
{|
|+'''Pressure-transmitting medium'''
!align="center"| Gases
!align="center"| Liquids
!align="center"| Solids
|-
|valign="top" align="center"| [[Helium]] (He)<br/> [[Neon]] (Ne)<br/> [[Argon]] (Ar)<br/> [[Nitrogen#Nitrogen_gas|Nitrogen]] (N{{sub|2}})
|valign="top" align="center"|&nbsp; &nbsp; 4:1&nbsp;[[Methanol]]:[[Ethanol]] &nbsp; &nbsp; <br/> [[Silicone oil]]<br/> [[Fluorinert]]<br/> Daphne&nbsp;7474<br/> [[Cyclohexane]]
|valign="top" align="center"| [[Sodium chloride]] (NaCl)
|}

The full range of techniques that are available has been summarized in a tree diagram by William Bassett. The ability to utilize any and all of these techniques hinges on being able to look through the diamonds which was first demonstrated by visual observations.