"For the first time, a group of Livermore researchers have been able to pin down the high-pressure lattice dynamics of the transition metal molybdenum by mapping its phonon energies under extremely high pressure.

Measuring the phonon dispersion curves is key to understanding a range of properties such as sound velocities, elasticity and phase stability.

Molybdenum, which in small quantities is effective at hardening steel, is used in two-thirds of all alloys. It is used industrially in high-strength alloys and high-temperatures steels, partly because it has one of the highest melting points of all pure elements. The metal also is used in some electronic applications, as the conductive metal layers in thin-film transistors. However, the element also is interesting because it undergoes no structural transitions under extremely high pressures, thus, allowing researchers to study the effects of pressure to very high compressions."