Upgrading the MIT Experimental Petrology Laboratory

申请的资金将用于升级麻省理工学院实验岩石学实验室。 该实验室开展实验研究，提供关于地球和类地行星内部化学分化过程和时间尺度的信息。 研究涉及相平衡和动力学研究。 项目包括：地球陆壳形成和化学演化的实验研究，地球、月球和火星地幔熔融过程和压力-温度条件的研究，地球和火星成核过程的研究，陨石母体化学分异和成核的研究。 升级将更换实验室继续生产和保持最先进水平所需的关键部件。 1)更新用于外热式气体压力容器、一个大气压和活塞缸实验的炉的过时和失效的温度控制设备。 这台设备正在失效，需要用现代电子设备更换。 2)更换老化的液压设备，用于为我们的三个活塞缸装置加压，并升级液压系统。 3)用最新仪器取代用于样品制备和检测的陈旧分析天平和显微镜。 这一新仪器的购置将确保麻省理工学院实验岩石学实验室的持续高效运行，使实验室能够保持高水平的生产力，并使我们能够继续产生高质量的实验结果。

EAR-0447204GroveThe requested funds will be used to upgrade the MIT Experimental Petrology Laboratory. The Laboratory carries out experimental studies that provide information on the processes and time scales of chemical differentiation within the Earth and terrestrial planets. Studies involve both phase equilibrium and kinetic investigations. Projects include: experimental studies of the formation and chemical evolution of the Earth's continental crust, studies of the processes and Pressure - Temperature conditions of mantle melting in the Earth, moon and Mars, studies of the processes of core formation on Earth and Mars and of chemical differentiation and core formation on meteorite parent bodies. The upgrade will replace critical components that are necessary for the laboratory to continue productively and remain state-of-the-art. Funds are requested to carry out upgrades in three areas. 1) Upgrade outdated and failing temperature control equipment for furnaces used for externally heated gas pressure vessel, one-atmosphere and piston cylinder experiments. This equipment is failing and needs to be replaced with modern electronics. 2) Replace aging hydraulic equipment used to pressurize our three piston cylinder devices and upgrade the hydraulic systems. 3) Replace antiquated analytical balances and microscopes that are used in sample preparation and examination with up-to-date instrumentation. The acquisition of this new instrumentation will ensure continued efficient operation of the MIT experimental petrology laboratory, will allow the lab to sustain a high level of productivity and will allow us to continue to produce high-quality experimental results.