Physics of materials under extreme conditions

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The proposed research program in physics of materials under extreme conditions (pressure and temperature) represents a continuation of current experimental projects and new research initiatives at the Laboratoire de physique des solides denses (U. of Ottawa). In addition to on-site facilities, this program will make extensive of external experimental research facilities. It comprises four general research axes:(1) Study (i) the structural stability, the crystalline structures, and the lattice dynamics of dense solids; (ii) temperature/pressure-induced phase transitions and underlying mechanisms; (iii) the physical properties of novel high-density materials. (2) Compare the measured physical properties of dense materials with computationally simulated properties to refine both the experimental and computational modeling. (3) Make intensive use of synchrotron radiation to probe dense materials by X-ray scattering. Synchrotron radiation research work will be carried out mostly at the Canadian Light Source (CLS). In fact, with the proposed project, we want to initiate and develop at the CLS a strong and structured program of research on materials at extreme conditions. (4)  In a complementary manner, develop novel experimental approaches to probe condensed matter submitted to extreme conditions using diamond anvil cells.The proposed research program is motivated by three main scientific problems, given as follows, which will be addressed through main axes listed above: the study of dense guest-host materials like (1) gas hydrates, for their potential as high-density/capacity gas storage, (2) their analogues Group IV clathrates, to study changes in electronic interactions at high density in these clathrate systems and also explore the potential of novel properties arising in high-density phases; We will continue, with national and international collaborators, (3) the exploration of dense forms of molecular and van der Waals solids, including dense pure oxygen and noble element/oxygen compounds.