CLEAR Lab

GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences

last updated: February 4, 2025

About the Laboratory

CLEAR Lab

GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences

@ Section 3.4 Fluid Systems Modelling

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Networks: Geo.X

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Description

Within the research group CLEAR we endeavor to understand large scale geological processes that operate deep inside planets. Our approach is to recreate high pressure-temperature conditions in the laboratory and examine various physical properties of minerals and rocks (in situ) using state-of-the-art spectroscopic techniques. Specifically, we use statically- and dynamically-heated diamond anvil cells together with a pulsed time-resolved broadband optical probe and a precisely-synchronized detector to explore the optical properties of planetary mantles and technological materials at extreme conditions.

Instruments

DAC - Diamond Anvil Cell
LASERS (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation): Any of several devices that emit highly amplified and coherent radiation of one or more discrete frequencies. One of the most common lasers makes use of atoms in a metastable energy state that, as they decay to a lower energy level, stimulate others to decay, resulting in a cascade of emitted radiation. [Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition] (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
Laser
Camera
Spectrographs are spectroscopes with a photographic or other recording device to capture an image of the entire spectrum, or portions thereof, at one instant in time. [Source: Glossary of Meteorology] (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
Spectrograph

Analytical Methods

In optical spectroscopy, energy absorbed to move an electron to a higher energy level and/or the energy emitted as the electron moves to a lower energy level is absorbed or emitted in the form of photons. Because each element has a unique number of electrons, an atom will absorb/release energy in a pattern unique to its elemental identity (e.g. Ca, Na, etc.) and thus will absorb/emit photons in a correspondingly unique pattern. The type of atoms present in a sample, or the amount of atoms present in a sample can be deduced from measuring these changes in light wavelength and light intensity. (Source: IUPAC; https://iupac.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/PAC-REC-19-02-03.R2_PR191002MC.pdf) (Source: Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16.3 [...] )
Optical Spectroscopy
OPTSPEC

Laboratory Keywords

In addition to the instruments and analytical methods listed above, these keywords help to describe the work done in the laboratory. This may include the type of samples, standard materials, specific preparative or analytical methods and specific instrument characteristics.

Laser-heated Diamond Anvil Cell (LH-DAC)

Disciplines

Geoscience > Geochemistry > Geochemistry
Geochemistry
Geoscience > Geophysics > Mineral Physics
Mineral Physics

Links

Key Publications: