Single-crystal X-ray diffraction at high pressures with diamond-anvil cells

The past twenty years have seen the widespread development of diamond-anvil pressure cells (DAC's) suitable for carrying out single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments to pressures in excess of 10 GPa. The relative advantages and disadvantages of the various types of DAC are discussed and the basic techniques for their operation, including pressure measurement and the collection of diffraction data, are described. The application of DAC's to the study of structural phase transitions at high pressures is also reviewed.