Research Interests

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Research Topics

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Computational (Geo)Materials Science and Geochemistry

We investigate atomic structure/dynamics of melts and fluids, crucial for geological processes, impacting properties like density and viscosity. We use classical and ab initio molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, including on supercomputers, for interpreting experiments and predicting properties under extreme conditions. We also study mineral properties at high pressure/temperature using first-principles DFT methods to analyze phase stability, transformations, and thermoelastic properties. Furthermore, our research covers structure and transport at grain and phase boundaries, focusing on atomic structure, melting/crystallization, and material transport at interfaces. A key challenge is developing accurate, efficient molecular simulation tools. We utilize DFT codes (CP2K, ABINIT, VASP) for static/dynamic properties. For large-scale simulations, we employ classical potentials like the Aspherical Ion Model (AIM), parameterized via first-principles, capable of accurately describing silicates across wide P/T ranges; we also explore reactive force fields and machine-learning potentials, actively participating in their improvement.

Current project:

recent publication

Brunnen am Geschwister-Scholl-Platz in winterlicher Stimmung

Bildunterschrift

© LMU

Experimental High-Pressure Mineralogy

We study material properties under extreme high-pressure/temperature conditions relevant to Earth's interior, including minerals, melts, glasses, and fluids. Since direct access to Earth's deep interior is limited, we use diamond anvil cells to simulate conditions up to 364 GPa and 6000 °C, analyzing samples in-situ or ex-situ with methods like X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Our work includes investigating silicate glasses as melt analogs, crucial for understanding Earth's formation and current state, like volcanism. We analyze their structures and densities up to 135 GPa. We also utilize hydrothermal diamond anvil cells (HDACs) for in-situ experiments on solids and liquids up to 1000 K and 1 GPa. HDACs, combined with techniques like X-ray fluorescence and X-ray absorption spectroscopy, help us determine properties like density, viscosity, solubility, and phase transitions, with a current focus on metal speciation under hydrothermal conditions.

Current project:

recent publication

About me

Sandro Jahn has been Professor for Interaction of Geomaterials and Living Organisms at LMU Munich since 2024, where he also directs the Mineralogical State Collection. Prior to this, he held a professorship in Mineralogy and Crystallography at the University of Cologne from 2015 to 2024, following research positions at GFZ Potsdam and the University of Oxford.

CV

since 2024 Professor of Interaction of geomaterials and living organisms

2015 - 2024 Professor of Mineralogy and Crystallography, Institute for Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne
2008 - 2015 Leader of a DFG-funded Emmy-Noether Research Group, GFZ Potsdam
2004 - 2008 Postdoc, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam
2002 - 2004 Postdoc, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, UK
2000 - 2002 PhD Student, Institut Laue-Langevin Grenoble, France
1999 - 2002 Research Assistant, Institute of Physics, Technical University of Chemnitz

  • Direktor der Mineralogischen Staatssammlung München

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Curriculum Vitae

since 2024
Professor of Interaction of geomaterials and living organisms
2015 - 2024
Professor of Mineralogy and Crystallography, Institute for Geology and Mineralogy, University of Cologne
2008 - 2015
Leader of a DFG-funded Emmy-Noether Research Group, GFZ Potsdam
2004 - 2008
Postdoc, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam
2002 - 2004
Postdoc, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, UK
2000 - 2002
PhD Student, Institut Laue-Langevin Grenoble, France
1999 - 2002
Research Assistant, Institute of Physics, Technical University of Chemnitz