Development of high resolution phase shift interferometry for study of mineral dissolution-precipitation

Abstract

A new type of high resolution phase shift interferometry was developed for study of mineral dissolution-precipitation phenomena. Using these instruments, dissolution/precipitation rates of minerals with very low solubility such as smectite, plagioclase and so on were experimentally determined in order to understand the mechanism of the reaction at the mineral-solution interface in nanometer scale. We advanced conventional interferometer with laser to a phase-shift interferometer with a white-light. Developments and evaluations were also made on the reaction cells at high temperature, high pressure and high pH conditions.