Overview
Materials simulations bring powerful methods for predicting the physical properties of complex mineral phases, assemblages, and melts under the extreme conditions expected in Earth’s interior (~6,500 K and 3.6 Mbar). They play a central role in probing the deep Earth and have brought us to the threshold of developing a general predictive theory of planetary interiors grounded in their material properties.
This project advances that vision by connecting a multidisciplinary team of scientists to advance the integration between three core fields of computational geophysics: mineral physics, seismology, and geodynamics.
Figure 1 – Mineral and rock properties: p = density, a = thermal expansivity, Cp = specific heat, M = viscosity, σ = electrical conductivity, and κ = thermal conductivity; Vs = seismic shear wave speed velocity, Vp = compressive wave speed velocity, Rs/p = ratio of relative Vs and V, velocity heterogeneities.
