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Experimental platform for combining high pressure and swift heavy ion irradiations

Ioannis Tzifas1,*, Kay-Obbe Voss1, Christopher Schröck1,2, Pascal Simon1, Jiaxu Liang2, Lkhamsuren Bayarjargal2, Maik Lang3, Reinhard Boehler4, David Merges2 et al.

Leon Kirsch1, Emanuil Zeqo1,5, Bjoern Winkler2, Maria-Eugenia Toimil-Molares1,5,†, and Christina Trautmann1

  • *Contact author: i.tzifas@gsi.de
  • †Contact author: m.e.toimilmolares@gsi.de
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Phys. Rev. Research 8, 023054 – Published 16 April, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/q8w6-wttf

Abstract

This paper presents the technical details and commissioning results of a newly upgraded platform for ion-irradiation experiments under multi-GPa static pressure conditions at the GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research (Darmstadt, Germany), now accessible to external users. The GSI SIS18 accelerator provides heavy ions with tens of GeV kinetic energies, capable of penetrating through diamond anvil cells and depositing extremely high energy densities within the pressurized samples. This energy deposition triggers ultrafast, localized structural and phase transformations at the nanoscale. The platform integrates online optical microscopy and Raman spectroscopy, providing real-time monitoring of material modifications during stepwise fluence accumulation. By enabling controlled studies of structural responses and phase transitions under coupled extreme conditions, this setup opens unprecedented opportunities for research across condensed-matter physics, materials science, geoscience, high-pressure chemistry, and planetary science.

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Phys. Rev. Research 8, 023054– Published 16 April, 2026
  • Received 15 January 2026
  • Accepted 13 March 2026
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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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