High-pressure laboratories of Bayerisches Geoinstitut

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Hans Keppler
• Subject Area: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry ; Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials
• Term: from 2013 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 233476351

High-pressure research is essential for Earth and materials science, solid state physics and chemistry. The purpose of this proposal is to make the high-pressure laboratories of Bayerisches Geoinstitut available to external users. The Geoinstitut is the leading facility for high-pressure research in Earth sciences in Europe, combining virtually all instruments of modern high-pressure research at one site. Many of the experimental facilities are unique in Europe, some are unique worldwide (e.g. 5000 ton multi anvil press; novel cubic press with six independent anvils; apparatus for the simultaneous measurement of Brillouin spectra and X-ray difffraction patterns on single crystals in diamond anvil cells; new portable laser-heating devices). The high-pressure facilities at Bayerisches Geoinstitut are supplemented by modern analytical laboratories (electron microprobe, SEM, TEM, LA-ICP/MS, FTIR, Raman, Moessbauer-spektrometers, etc.). A characteristic feature of the institute is its ability to develop new instruments and experimental methods. Many of the methods originally developed in Bayreuth are now used in laboratories worldwide (e.g. measurements of thermal and electrical conductivity in the multi anvil apparatus, ultrasonic interferometry and high-temperature infrared spectroscopy in diamond anvil cells). Access to external users would be granted in two different modes: (1) Users with approved DFG grants may pay for experiments (2) users without such grants may carry out exploratory studies free of charge. All high-pressure equipment would be made available to external users; all analytical equipment may be used free of charge if it is necessary for the high-pressure experiments. All external users will be supported by staff scientists in their experiments; this includes advice in optimum experimental design and data evaluation. Guest offices will be provided to the visitors and the secretarial staff of the institute will provide support in booking hotel rooms and other logistics.

• DFG Programme: Core Facilities