diamond-anvil cells when studying matter under extreme conditions. This typically means one of four things: Thermal equation of states Measuring the pressure-volume-temperature state of a material. In DAC work, this is done by applying pressure with the diamond anvils, applying temperature with lasers/resistive heaters, and measuring the volume response with X-ray diffraction. The thermal expansion and compressibility can then be defined in an equation of state with the independent variable of volume. High-pressure/temperature synthesis Using a diamond-anvil cell and laser heating to reach high pressures and temperatures achieve novel synthesis routes not accessible at ambient pressure that can produce unique high-pressure phases. Phase transition studies Providing excess kinetic energy to a sample in order to observe a kinetically unfavorable transition. Developing phase diagrams over the high-pressure range. High-pressure melting Measuring the dependence of the melting point on pressure. Pressure commonly elevates the melting point of solids. See also Anvil press D-DIA Fluid statics High pressure Material properties of diamond Pressure experiment References External links Materials science Condensed matter physics Geophysics Physical chemistry High pressure science