Mineralogy and Properties of Earth Materials:
Exploring the relationship between atomic-level structure and the properties
of earth materials, through experiments and modelling. Measurement of
the atomic-level structure and dynamics of minerals, glassy and molten
silicates and oxides, and ceramics using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR),
with the goal of understanding and predicting their thermodynamic and
transport properties. The problems addressed are tied to large-scale processes
in geology and geophysics, as well as to those in high-tech industries.
Among the former are the mechanisms of viscous flow in magmas and of solid
solution in minerals from the crust to the lower mantle; among the latter
are the optimization of glasses for flat screen computer displays and
optical data transmission and of oxide ceramics for fuel cells.
Faculty: Gordon Brown, Jonathan Stebbins
Related Laboratory Facilities:
- Nuclear magnetic resonance and Mossbauer spectrometers
- Electron microprobe with image-analysis system
- Scanning and transmission electron microscopes
- X-ray diffractometer
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory for studying the structure of materials by X-ray scattering and spectroscopy
- ESCA laboratory and a scanning tunneling microscope for surface studies
- for more information, see the GES
facilities site.
