Elasticity or iron and iron-based alloys at conditions of the Earth`s and planetary cores

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Leonid Dubrovinsky
• Subject Area: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry
• Term: from 2009 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 139716461

The Earth’s core is the most remote region of our planet and is in focus of the highest research interest due to development of experimental and computational methods, as well as steady improvement in observational techniques. Successful interpretation of geophysical data requires information on the elastic properties of Fe-based alloys under physical conditions of the Earth's core, that is at pressures exceeding 150 GPa and temperatures up to 6000 K. The ultimate goal of the project is to design, assemble, commission and make operational a double-side laser heating facility optimized to operate in situ with in-house X-ray facilities in radial diffraction geometry, which will then be used to study elasticity of iron, iron-nickel, and iron-nickel-silicon alloys at condition of the Earth’s and planetary cores.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1236: Synthesis, "In Situ" Characterisation and Quantum Mechanical Modelling of Earth Materials, Oxides, Carbides and Nitrides at Extremely High Pressures and Temperatures
• Participating Person: Professorin Dr. Natalia Dubrovinskaia