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On the Kinetics of Materials of Geophysical Interest

Citation

Newman, Matthew Gregory (2018) On the Kinetics of Materials of Geophysical Interest. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/Z9319T35. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:08282017-105838669

Abstract

Knowledge of the equation of state and phase diagram of magnesium silicates and light iron alloys is important for understanding the thermal evolution and interior structure of terrestrial planets. Dynamic compression techniques are the primary viable methods to create the temperature and pressure conditions that are relevant to Earth and super-Earth (1-10 Earth mass) sized planets. However, due to the kinetic constraints imposed by the timescale of dynamic compression experiments, the nature of the state within the dynamically compressed sample (whether equilibrium or metastable) is uncertain. Here, we present the results of a series of dynamic compression experiments performed on both laser driven compression and plate impact facilities to study the nanosecond to microsecond response of forsterite and iron silicide. In situ x-ray diffraction measurements are used to probe the crystal structure of solid phases and test for the presence of melt, from which we investigate the decomposition of forsterite and iron silicide into compositionally distinct phases at high pressure. For forsterite, we do not observe chemical segregation in the solid phase, however the presence of melt speeds up the kinetics and allows chemical segregation to occur on nanosecond timescales. For iron silicide, our results show a textured solid phase upon shock compression to pressures ranging from 166(14) to 282(24) GPa consistent with cubic and hcp structures in coexistence. Above 313(29) GPa, the intense and textured solid diffraction peaks give way to a diffuse scattering feature and loss of texture, consistent with melting along the Hugoniot.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:forsterite, iron silicide, high pressure, chemical segregation
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Engineering and Applied Science
Major Option:Aeronautics
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Ravichandran, Guruswami
Group:GALCIT
Thesis Committee:
  • Meiron, Daniel I. (chair)
  • Ravichandran, Guruswami
  • Bhattacharya, Kaushik
  • Kraus, Richard
Defense Date:31 August 2017
Non-Caltech Author Email:matthew.g.newman (AT) gmail.com
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
Lawrence Livermore National LaboratoryLDRD-15ERD012
National Laser Users’ Facility (NLUF)DE-FOA-0001568
Record Number:CaltechTHESIS:08282017-105838669
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:08282017-105838669
DOI:10.7907/Z9319T35
ORCID:
AuthorORCID
Newman, Matthew Gregory0000-0003-2752-0121
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:10393
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Matthew Newman
Deposited On:04 Oct 2017 18:41
Last Modified:04 Oct 2019 00:17

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