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Bioengineer
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Liquid Carbon Structure Revealed for the First Time
- An international research team has experimentally measured liquid carbon's atomic structure for the first time, using high-power laser DIPOLE100-X and X-ray laser pulses from the European XFEL facility.
- Carbon's behavior in liquid form has long puzzled scientists due to its unique properties that require extreme pressures and temperatures to achieve a liquid state.
- Laser-driven compression techniques were used to briefly convert solid carbon samples into liquid form for ultrashort X-ray pulses to probe the atomic arrangement.
- The experiment revealed that liquid carbon's atomic structure resembles solid diamond, with each carbon atom maintaining four nearest neighbors.
- The study also provided precise data on carbon's melting point under extreme pressure, narrowing previous uncertainties and confirming theoretical models.
- Experimental data captured phase transitions from solid to liquid in nanoseconds, creating a dynamic 'movie' of carbon's transformation in real time.
- The successful collaboration between international institutions and advanced technologies paves the way for future research in planetary science, energy technologies, and condensed matter physics.
- The research tools employed, combining ultrafast lasers with X-ray diffraction capabilities, offer detailed insights into matter under extreme conditions, revolutionizing various scientific fields.
- Improvements in automation and data processing are expected to accelerate experiments, enabling real-time experimentation and broader exploration of materials and phenomena.
- The groundbreaking achievement signifies a significant advancement in science and technology, showcasing how cutting-edge instrumentation and collaboration can overcome once-impossible experimental challenges.
- The elucidation of liquid carbon's structure is set to contribute valuable insights to planetary geology, energy research, and condensed matter physics, enhancing our knowledge of matter at extreme conditions.
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