About the group
The Experimental Mineral group reproduces the conditions that prevail in the deep Earth using a laser-heated diamond anvil cell to measure the properties of minerals. The group is led by Prof. Motohiko Murakami.
Since Motohiko Murakami's arrival at ETH Zurich in August 2017, the Experimental Mineral Physics group is developing a high-pressure and high-temperature elasticity measurement system to achieve the determination of the density of the silicate melts under extreme condition in the laboratory in order to understand the differentiation process in early Earth which was fully covered with deep magma ocean. In parallel, the group is also aiming for technical developments at PSI such as synchrotron and free-electron laser facilities for the possible application to fundamental issues on the planetary science and condensed matter physics under extreme pressure condition. The group has already set up the basic measurement systems in the lab including Brillouin & Raman scattering techniques combined with laser-heated diamond anvil cell apparatus, which will soon be ready to enable the group to explore the differentiation process in deep planetary interiors from fully molten state.
Key collaborators
- Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington
- Bayerisches Geoinstitut, University of Bayreuth
- Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University
- ELSI, Tokyo Institute of Technologyy
- Tohoku University
- University of Tokyo
- NIMS (Japan)