Diamonds and X-rays open a window to the core

Scientists cannot experiment with real material from Earth’s interior. The second best solution is a diamond anvil.

Two diamonds are forced so hard against each other that between their points, they simulate the pressure of hundreds of gigapascals at the centre of Earth. In the anvil between the two diamond points, scientists isolate a microscopic piece of iron. A

laser beam heats the iron to a temperature of 5,000+ °C. The iron grain refracts a powerful

X-ray, which draws a pattern on a plate. The pattern from the refracted X-ray shows how iron behaves under the conditions existing in Earth's core.

X- R AY DIAMOND LASER BEAM IRON GRAIN X- R AY D I F F R A C T I O N PAT T E R N