Detonation-induced transformation of graphite to hexagonal diamond

We explore the structural evolution of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) under detonation-induced shock conditions using in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction in the ns time scale. We observe the formation of hexagonal diamond (lonsdaleite) at pressures above 50 GPa, in qualitative agreement with recent gas gun experiments. First-principles density functional calculations reveal that under uniaxial compression the energy barrier for the transition towards hexagonal diamond is lower than cubic diamond. Finally, no indication of cubic diamond formation was observed up to >70 GPa.