Laboratory for Mineral Physics         

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We study the physical and chemical properties of materials under high pressure and high temperature conditions, to better understand the constitution, structure, and evolution of the Earth's interior.

Seismological studies provide direct information on the properties of minerals in the Earth's interior, and petrological studies of mantle-derived rocks place strong constraints on the composition of the mantle. Developments in computational geodynamics offer continuing improvements in understanding processes internal to the planet. Mineral physics plays an essential role to all of these fields, by providing the material properties as a basis for seismological, petrological, and geodynamical interpretations of the Earth's interior.
Undergraduate Research

There is a variety of opportunities for undergraduate research in the Laboratory for Mineral Physics. Interested students are encouraged to contact Andrew Campbell for more information.


In the University of Maryland's Laboratory for Mineral Physics, diamond anvil cells are used to generate high pressure conditions comparable to those in the Earth's mantle and core.

The diamond anvils not only apply the pressure, but act as windows to the sample, allowing optical and X-ray access. The sample's physical and chemical properties can be probed using a variety of laser spectroscopies and X-ray techniques.

     diamond anvil cell     anvils

The laboratory began operation in 2006. Stereomicroscopes and other tools for microassembly of high pressure samples are used in the sample preparation area.

An optical table holds a spectrometer, a 532 nm laser for ruby fluorescence pressure measurement, and a 1064 nm fiber laser for heating of diamond anvil cell samples to > 3000 K.
 Optics table  

Our laser heating system is unique in its ability to measure 2D temperature distributions across the laser heated spot (below right). This is a great improvement over older systems that measure only a single temperature at a time, or a 1D profile at best. The multispectral imaging system (below left) was described by Campbell (2008).

Multispectral imaging radiometer     Temperature map

Current Topics of Research:

Equation of state studies of metal-oxide systems, to improve understanding of oxygen fugacity buffers at high pressure

 Phase diagram and equation of state studies of candidate components of the Earth's core, to better constrain its composition

Trace element partitioning studies between metal and melt at high and low pressures, to understand chemistry of planetary cores



Research in the University of Maryland's Laboratory for Mineral Physics is supported by the National Science Foundation.