High Pressure Melting of the Earth's Core Material

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Shen 0001149 This proposal is to begin a series of high pressure melting experiments using the laser heated diamond anvil cell coupled with the third generation synchrotron x-ray micro-beam. This work will provide melting data on major components of the Earth's core (Fe, FeO, FeS, and Fe-Ni-O-S system) to pressures equivalent to those present in the Earth's core. The results of this study will have important implications for the Earth's thermal state and dynamic processes. Experiments will be performed at GeoSoilEnviroCARS (GSECARS) at the Advanced Photon Source (APS), Chicago. A newly developed laser heated diamond anvil cell (DAC) system will be used for generating a sample volume (~20 mm in dimension) at pressures to 250 GPa and sufficiently high temperatures for melting (4000 K). In situ x-ray diffraction with micro x-ray beams (~5 mm) will be used as a probe for melting determination. This proposal brings together expertise in the high pressure DAC technique and the new third generation synchrotron radiation (APS) which is ideally suited to study the long-standing problem of high pressure melting.