Electrical and thermal conduction properties of Earth's core

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26707029
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Petrology/Mineralogy/Economic geology
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Kenji Ohta 東京工業大学, 理学院, 講師 (20727218)
• Research Collaborator: HIROSE Kei ; OHISHI Yasuo ; SUEHIRO Sho
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 地球中心核 / 鉄合金 / 電気伝導度 / 熱伝導率 / 高温高圧実験

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Electrical and thermal conductivities are fundamental physical properties to know thermal structure and evolution of Earth's interior. However, there is few report regarding the conductivity measurements under the Earth's core conditions. The purpose of this study is to measure the electrical conductivity of iron-light element alloys that may consist of the Earth's core under very high pressures and temperatures, and to reveal electrical and thermal conductivity profile of the Earth. After some technical developments, we succeeded to measure the electrical conductivity of iron at the core conditions. In addition, we revealed the effect of sulfur and hydrogen incorporation on the conductivity of iron at high pressure and temperature conditions. The findings in this study will be a fundamental information to consider thermal structure and evolution of Earth and other terrestrial planets.

Free Research Field

高圧地球惑星科学