Illuminating the Structural Secrets of Magma: A combined experimental and computational approach - Dr James Drewitt

We are pleased to announce that Dr James Drewitt, Research Fellow in the School of Physics at University of Bristol, will be delivering a seminar on: Illuminating the Structural Secrets of Magma: A combined experimental and computational approach.

Abstract: 

Under the extreme conditions of high-temperature and pressure within planetary interiors, natural magmas undergo atomic-scale structural transformations that profoundly influence their fundamental physical properties, including density and viscosity. These properties, in turn, govern the behaviour and mobility of magmas at depth, with far-reaching implications for understanding magmatic processes, including planetary-scale differentiation from primordial magma oceans, chemical alteration and partitioning during upward or lateral migration of melts, and mantle melting in subduction-zone and mid-ocean ridge settings. A comprehensive understanding of the atomic-scale structure and properties of magmas is thus essential for informing geochemical models of magmatic processes. However, measuring high-temperature liquids, whether at ambient pressure or under high-pressure conditions, presents a considerable challenge. The inherent disordered nature of liquids at the atomic-scale further complicates the acquisition of structural data.

In this talk, I will discuss recent advances in in-situ measurements of the structure and properties of high-temperature liquids, including containerless processing by levitation and diamond anvil cell (DAC) techniques. I will highlight the power of combining experimental results with state-of-the-art molecular dynamics simulations, drawing from my research on the structure and properties of hydrous and carbonated magmas at depth.