CONTEXT

A diamond anvil cell (DAC) is a system that allows compressing a small (sub-millimeter sized) piece of material to pressure and temperature conditions into a gasket (metallic in most of the cases) placed between the two anvils. Pressure can exceed 3,000,000 atmospheres (300 gigapascals).

Among experiences one can cite creating the pressure existing deep inside the Earth, studying mater at extreme conditions, i.e. phases not observed under ambiant conditions. Various measurements can be performed during the experiment like raman, infrared of X-rays spectroscopies... One important limitation to this equipments is due to a generally static functionning. Although a dynamic equipment has been proposed in 2007 by WJ Evans, this allows only small decreases of pressure. The joint placed between the two anvils as well as other parts of the cell, in particular metallic ones, are deformed and consequently the pressure really exercised between anvils varies without control; a misalignment of anvils can also provoke their damage, and even lead to their break.