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Science 29 October 2004:
Vol. 306. no. 5697, pp. 848 - 851
DOI: 10.1126/science.1102735
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Reports

Macroscopic Separation of Dense Fluid Phase and Liquid Phase of Phosphorus

Yoshinori Katayama,1* Yasuhiro Inamura,1{dagger} Takeshi Mizutani,1{ddagger} Masaaki Yamakata,2§ Wataru Utsumi,1 Osamu Shimomura1{ddagger}

Structural transformation between a dense molecular fluid and a polymeric liquid of phosphorus that occurred at about 1 gigapascal and 1000°C was investigated by in situ x-ray radiography. When the low-pressure fluid was compressed, dark and round objects appeared in the radiograph. X-ray diffraction measurements confirmed that these objects were the highpressure liquid. The drops grew and eventually filled the sample space. Decompressing caused the reverse process. The macroscopic phase separation supported the existence of a first-order phase transition between two stable disordered phases besides the liquid-gas transition. X-ray absorption measurements revealed that the change in density at the transition corresponds to about 40% of the density of the high-pressure liquid.

1 Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, Kouto 1-1-1, Mikazuki, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan.
2 Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, Kouto 1-1-1, Mikazuki, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan.



{dagger} Present address: Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwanoha 5-1-5, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8581, Japan.

{ddagger} Present address: Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, Kouto 1-1-1, Mikazuki, Sayo, Hyogo 679-5198, Japan.

§ Present address: Rigaku Mechatronics, Matsubara 3-9-12, Akishima, Tokyo 196-8666, Japan.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: katayama{at}spring8.or.jp

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THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
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G. N. Greaves, M. C. Wilding, S. Fearn, D. Langstaff, F. Kargl, S. Cox, Q. V. Van, O. Majerus, C. J. Benmore, R. Weber, et al. (2008)
Science 322, 566-570
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