Cerium, a member of the rare earth metals, has been studied up to 300 kilobars in a diamond‐anvil cell using energy‐ and angular‐dispersive x‐ray diffraction with a synchrotron source. The purpose of this experiment was to examine the electronic and structural behavior of cerium and to examine the effects of deviatoric stress due to non‐hydrostatic conditions within the sample environment. Using the standard sample orientation and data from various orientations, the effects of deviatoric stress are shown. © 2004 American Institute of Physics