Principle
The operation of the diamond anvil cell relies on a simple principle:
where P is the pressure, F the applied force, and A the area.
Therefore high pressure can be achieved by applying a moderate force on a sample with a small area, rather than applying a large force on a large area. In order to minimize deformation and failure of the anvils that apply the force, they must be made from a very hard and virtually incompressible material, such as diamond.
Read more about this topic: Diamond Anvil Cell
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