No abstract

The electrical transport properties of solid xenon were directly measured at pressures up to 155 GPa and temperatures from 300 K to 27 mK. The temperature dependence of resistance changed from semiconducting to metallic at pressures between 121 and 138 GPa, revealing direct proof of metallization of a rare-gas solid by electrical transport measurements. Anomalies in the conductivity are observed at low temperatures in the vicinity of the transition such that purely metallic behavior is observed only at 155 GPa over the entire temperature range.

A miniature versatile nonmagnetic diamond anvil cell for diverse physical property measurement under cryogenic environments and high magnetic fields at high pressure has been developed. Several such cells have been manufactured and tested in the Physical Properties Measurement System (PPMS) by Quantum Design at high pressures and low temperatures. The cells have good pressure stability during temperature scans down to helium temperatures and back to room temperature. The cells have been tested in strong magnetic fields and demonstrated excellent nonmagnetic properties. The wide-angle side openings give the possibility to use this cell as a "panoramic cell" in synchrotron experiments requiring large angle off-axis access. The possible experiments, which may use this cell, include spectroscopic experiments (optical, synchrotron Mossbauer, Raman, x-ray emission, etc.), different types of x-ray diffraction experiments, transport measurements (resistivity, magnetoresistivity, thermoelectromotive force, etc.), measurements of susceptibility, and many other conventional and synchrotron experiments at very low temperatures and in strong magnetic fields.