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High-pressure neutron diffraction at ultra-low temperature

Y. Wu1,*, T. E. Sherline1, J. J. Molaison1, A. M. dos Santos1, H. D. Zhou2, H. B. Cao1, J. J. Pierce1, and B. Haberl1,†

  • *Contact author: wuy1@ornl.gov
  • †Present address: Department of Materials Physics, Research School of Physics, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
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Phys. Rev. Research 7, 043063 – Published 16 October, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/2hx9-qjhq

Abstract

Neutron diffraction is a powerful tool in the study of quantum materials and associated emergent phenomena as it allows for direct detection of magnetic structure even at ultra-low temperatures. As pressure can drive systems across quantum critical points and tune emergent behaviors at the quantum scale, coupling neutron diffraction with extreme conditions of high pressure at (ultra-)low temperatures has been a key research target over decades. This has proven challenging as magnetic neutron diffraction typically requires large sample volumes due to flux limitations, whereas high-pressure studies require small sample volumes due to pressure limitations. Combining these two contradictory requirements poses many difficulties, but also brings opportunities in research and development. Here, we address these shortcomings through the use of a diamond anvil cell equipped with polycrystalline anvils with relatively large sample volumes coupled with the high neutron flux made available by the high-pressure diffractometer of the Spallation Neutron Source. This particular diamond anvil cell configuration has previously proven useful for single-crystal samples and is here coupled with the ultra-low temperatures of a dilution refrigerator for the first time. Our study on a single crystal of Yb2O3 successfully collected magnetic neutron diffraction data at 5.3 GPa below 200 mK inside a dilution refrigerator. We have performed a detailed analysis of the magnetic diffraction data to investigate the magnetic structure under pressure and observed a subtle shift in the transition temperature. This development will open the door for future studies on magnetic materials with these much-desired coupled extremes of high pressure and ultra-low temperatures.

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Phys. Rev. Research 7, 043063– Published 16 October, 2025
  • Received 24 June 2025
  • Accepted 18 September 2025
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.

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