Every material in the universe is subject to pressure, ranging from nearly zero in the vacuum of interstellar space, to 1 atm at sea level on Earth, and even to unimaginably extreme pressures of 40 million atm in the core of Jupiter or 10^29 atm in the core of a neutron star. As a fundamental thermodynamic variable, pressure governs the physical properties of condensed matter by altering interatomic distances and, consequently, controlling every aspect of the interaction of electromagnetic forces within a system. Therefore, studying the effects of pressure provides fundamental insights into the factors that influence material properties and can even guide us in designing and synthesizing advanced materials applicable under ambient conditions.
Department of Physics
Eastern Illinois University
600 Lincoln Ave, Charleston, IL 69120
Email: jlim5@eiu.edu