Toward Cutting-Edge Research on the Earth's Deep Interior Using Diamond Anvil Cell

Abstract

Melting and crystallization of deep Earth materials are the key to understanding the chemical evolution and structure of Earth's deep interior. We investigated melting behaviors of the lower mantle materials by performing high-pressure melting experiments using laser-heated diamond anvil cell, and by conducting chemical analysis of the recovered samples with electron microprobe and dual-energy X-ray CT imaging. Toward deeper understanding of the chemical evolution of the early Earth, we developed a high-pressure in situ X-ray laminography technique using laterally-open diamond anvil cell. In addition, we have developed torsional deformation apparatus based on laterally-open diamond anvil cell. The apparatus enables us to investigate the rheological properties of deep-Earth materials to 135 GPa, covering the entire lower mantle pressure conditions.