Pressure-induced structural transformation in radiation-amorphized zircon.

Trachenko, K. and Brazhkin, V. V. and Tsiok, O. B. and Dove, M. T. and Salje, E. K. H. (2007) Pressure-induced structural transformation in radiation-amorphized zircon. Physical Review Letters, 98 (13). ISSN 0031-9007 DOI https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.135502

PDF DovePressure.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (293kB)

Abstract

We study the response of a radiation-amorphized material to high pressure. We have used zircon ZrSiO4 amorphized by natural radiation over geologic times, and have measured its volume under high pressure, using the precise strain-gauge technique. On pressure increase, we observe apparent softening of the material, starting from 4 GPa. Using molecular dynamics simulation, we associate this softening with the amorphous-amorphous transformation accompanied by the increase of local coordination numbers. We observe permanent densification of the quenched sample and a nontrivial “pressure window” at high temperature. These features point to a new class of amorphous materials that show a response to pressure which is distinctly different from that of crystals.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	2007 AREP IA54 2007 P kot;
Divisions:	03 - Mineral Sciences
Journal or Publication Title:	Physical Review Letters
Volume:	98
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.135502
Depositing User:	Sarah Humbert
Date Deposited:	16 Feb 2009 13:03
Last Modified:	23 Jul 2013 10:08
URI:	http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/id/eprint/748

Actions (login required)

View Item