Development of X-ray Atlas, a high-brilliance high-sensitivity high-load-capacity X-ray diffractometer for mineralogy and mineral physics research at the University of Hawaii

能够在代表地球深处的极端压力和温度条件下探测地球形成矿物的结构、行为和性质的实验是关于我们星球内部工作的主要信息来源之一，在创建用于预测地震等可靠的地球物理模型时不可或缺。基于X射线衍射的实验在矿物物理中发挥着特殊的作用，是关于晶体结构和深处发生的成键变化的唯一可靠的信息来源。在这个项目中，我们将开发X射线图谱，这是新一代仪器，针对创新的、基于实验室的衍射实验进行了优化，在极端压力和温度下使用微小矿物碎片样品进行衍射实验。X射线地图集还将为夏威夷大学的矿物物理实验室提供急需的、目前尚不存在的实验能力，并将成为校园内大量专注于地质学的教职员工和学生的宝贵资源。X射线地图集将能够探索与地球上地幔、过渡带和一些下地幔有关的压力和温度条件(高达50 Gpa和1000o C，对应于深度大于1000公里)。新仪器将由商用X射线衍射仪、Bruker D8 Venture作为基础平台组成。Venture衍射仪在计划中的改造后将保留其原有的全部功能，但通过集成并联运动学六足机器人装置作为高压钻石砧座单元和薄片的替代样品安装平台，将增加一系列新的独特功能。除了六脚架，我们还将把光纤传输到Venture衍射仪的样品观察系统中，这将使样品安装在衍射仪上时，可以使用现有的独立普林斯顿仪器光谱系统收集红宝石荧光和拉曼信号。通过开发X射线Altas，我们将为夏威夷大学以实验室为基础的矿物学、岩石学和矿物物理学本科生和研究生教育创造新的和非常令人兴奋的机会，为矿物物理创建一个人才培训和新技术与软件原型网站，并提供新颖、独特、强大和定制设计的技术，这些技术将转移到其他大学矿物物理研究实验室，并将由商业仪器供应商销售。

Experiments that allow probing the structure, behavior and properties of Earth forming minerals at extreme pressure and temperature conditions representative of the Earth deep interior are one of primary sources of information about the inner workings of our planet, indispensable in creating reliable geophysical models used e.g. to predict earthquakes. X-ray diffraction based experiments play a special role in mineral physics, being the only reliable source of information about changes in the crystal structure and bonding that take place at depths. Within this project we will develop X-ray Atlas, a new generation of instrument optimized for innovative, laboratory-based diffraction experiments with tiny mineral fragment samples at extreme pressures and temperatures. X-ray Atlas will also provide the much needed and currently non-existent experimental capabilities for the mineral physics lab at the University of Hawaii, and will be a valuable resource to a large number of geology-focused faculty and students on campus. X-ray Atlas will be capable of exploring pressure and temperature conditions relevant for the Earth upper mantle, transition zone and some of the lower mantle (up to 50 GPa and 1000o C, corresponding to depths greater than 1000 km). The new instrument will consist of commercial X-ray diffractometer, Bruker D8 Venture as a base platform. The Venture diffractometer will retain its original full functionality after the planned modification, but a range of new unique capabilities will be added by integrating a parallel kinematics hexapod robotic device as an alternative sample mounting platform for high pressure diamond anvil cells and thin sections. In addition to the hexapod, we will incorporate a fiber optics transport to the sample viewing system of the Venture diffractometer, which will enable collection of ruby fluorescence and Raman signal using an existing standalone Princeton Instruments spectroscopy system, while the sample is mounted on the diffractometer. Through development of the X-ray Altas we will create new and very exciting opportunities for lab-based mineralogy, petrology and mineral physics undergraduate and graduate education at the University of Hawaii, create a personnel training and new technology and software prototyping site for mineral physics and deliver novel, unique, robust and custom-designed technology that will be transferred to other university mineral physics research labs, and will be marketed by a commercial instrument vendor.