Editing Diamond anvil cell (section)

===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.