Experimental Petrology of Lunar and Planetary Igneous Rocks

The principal investigator will study the generation of melts in planetary interiors, transport within the interiors, and chemical differentiation processes. To do so he will experimentally study both natural and synthetic igneous systems over a wide range of temperatures and pressures, utilizing petrologic, analytical, and modelling techniques. The aim is to reach a better understanding of planetary differentiation through igneous processes. The results of this work will be crucial to a geologic understanding of the development and evolution of the Earth as a planet.