Sergey Lobanov, Scientist at the Geoforschungsinstitut Potsdam
© Sergey Lobanov
In today's edition of our SPP2404 DeepDyn seminar series, Sergey Lobanov from GFZ Potsdam takes us on a journey through the Earth's mantle with his lecture on "Short stories on traveling crust to core with a bright lamp: white-laser spectroscopy for physical properties of the deep earth".
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Short stories on traveling crust to core with a bright lamp: white-laser spectroscopy for physical properties of the deep Earth
© Sergey Lobanov
Abstract
Physical properties of the Earth’s mantle and core largely determine the character of all important geological process operating in the deep interior, such as the core geodynamo and mantle convection. However, experimental constraints of the relevant physical properties at high pressure and temperature conditions often pose a great challenge because of the miniscule sample volume available for probing. To overcome this challenge, my colleagues and I are developing a suite of spectroscopic methods that use an ultra-bright white laser as a probe for diverse physical properties of the mantle and core. In novel spectroscopic experiments performed at high pressure and temperature we strive to better constrain the thermal and electrical conductivity of the Earth’s mantle and core as well as the density and viscosity of silicate melts. The white laser is thus a lamp of sorts that illuminates the trail from crust to core. In my DeepDyn seminar, I will showcase the spectroscopic studies of the deep Earth that are made possible by white-laser spectroscopy. Our future results may provide critical input for (1) quantifying the heat flow across the core-mantle boundary, (2) modeling magma ocean crystallization, (3) deciphering deep low seismic velocity structures, and (4) clarifying the mechanism of core geodynamo.