A team of researchers made a major breakthrough in measuring
the structure of nanomaterials under extremely high pressures. Bragg coherent
x-ray diffraction imaging (CXDI) is a promising tool to probe the internal
strains of nanometer-sized crystals. But for high-pressure studies the x-ray
beam must pass through a component of the diamond anvil cell, which can
significantly affect the coherence properties of the beam. The researchers have
developed a technique to deal with this that could lead to advances in new
nanomaterials created under high pressures and a greater understanding of what
is happening in planetary interiors.