New finding on key element of Earth's lower mantle
Monday, January 25, 2010 - 10:28
in Physics & Chemistry
The electronic spin state of iron in perovskite, a major component of Earth's lower mantle, can influence the physical and chemical properties of the mantle. However, previous studies have presented an unclear picture of the spin state of iron in perovskite, with some experiments contradicting computational results. In a new experiment designed to better control the conditions under which perovskite is synthesized, researchers measured the spin state of iron in perovskite.