X-ray free electron laser heating of water and gold at high static pressure

The study of water at high pressure and temperature is essential for understanding planetary interiors but is hampered by the high reactivity of water at extreme conditions. Here, indirect X-ray laser heating of water in a diamond anvil cell is realized via a gold absorber, showing no evidence of reactivity

High-pressure elasticity of serpentine and seismic properties of the hydrated mantle wedge

International audienc

Elasticity of glaucophane and seismic properties of high-pressure low-temperature oceanic rocks in subduction zones

International audienceUpon subduction, the oceanic crust transforms to blueschists and eclogites, with seismic properties that gradually become similar to those of the surrounding mantle. In order to evaluate the anisotropy of blueschists and glaucophane-bearing eclogites, the elastic constants of glaucophane single-crystal plates from the Sesia-Lanzo Zone (Aosta Valley, Western Alps) were measured using Brillouin spectroscopy at ambient conditions. The mean P- and S-wave velocities are 7.8 and 4.6 km s−1 respectively, and the anisotropy is high (38.1% (AVP) and 27.3% (AVS)). Glaucophane develops strong LPO, characterized by the [001]-axes concentrated sub-parallel to the lineation, and the {110} poles concentrated sub-perpendicular to the foliation in both blueschist and eclogite rocks. The measured LPO is in good agreement with viscoplastic selfconsistent numerical models. Seismic properties of glaucophane-bearing blueschist and eclogite are calculated by combining measured LPO and the single-crystal elastic moduli of glaucophane with the other main mineral constituents of the rock: mostly epidote for blueschist, and omphacite and garnet for eclogite. Blueschists present stronger anisotropies (AVP=16.1% and AVS=10.3%) than eclogites (AVP=2.9% and AVS=1.7%). The shear-wave splitting and resulting delay times for a 7-km thick layer of eclogite or blueschist are low for the eclogite (b0.03 s), but signi!cant for blueschist (0.16 s). Application to the subducted oceanic crust yields a decrease of velocity contrast with the surrounding mantle and of anisotropy at depth depending on the temperature of the slab. The details of the velocity variations in subducted oceanic crust are dif!cult to reconcile with the blueschist-eclogite transition as probed by exhumed metamorphic rocks and may require additional phases such as lawsonite or chemical variations such as oxidation state

Electron back-scattering diffraction (EBSD) measurements of antigorite lattice-preferred orientations (LPO)

International audienc

Dissociation temperatures of methane hydrates at high pressure: Implications for the differentiation of Titan's interior

International audienc

Experimental investigation of methane hydrates dissociation up to 5GPa: Implications for Titan’s interior

International audienc

In situ IR reflectance spectroscopy of clathrate hydrates at low and moderate pressures: application to icy moons

International audienc