White Sands National Monument (2006)

 

 

 

 

Stefanie Japel

Department of Physics

New Mexico State University

MSC 3D Box 30001
Las Cruces, NM 88003

Phone: 505-646-4446    

Fax: (505) 646-1934

Email: japel@nmsu.edu

 

My work focuses on experiments conducted in order to better constrain the light element content of the Earth’s interior and to study the effects that light elements and water have on both nominally anhydrous minerals and iron-nickel alloys.

 

One of the most volatile debates in Earth Science today focuses on the light element content of the Earth’s interior.  We know from seismic studies that the Earth’s core is up to 10% lighter than a pure iron-nickel alloy.  There must be some quantity of light elements in addition to the iron and nickel, but we have yet to determine what these light elements are, and exactly what effect they have on core properties such as rheology, conductivity, viscosity, and magnetism. 

 

Another important controversy in the “light elements in the interior” debate is the effect that water (stored in minerals as H20 or OH groups) has on earth processes.  Water enters the interior as a component of minerals that make up subducting (oceanic) slabs.  When the water is released, it affects the overlying rock, creating zones of upwelling and volcanic activity.  At greater depth, water affects the flow of the liquid mantle, and may also contribute to activity in the 660km transition zone.  Study of hydrous silicates is essential to the understanding of the mechanisms for water storage and release, and the effect this has on the surrounding environment.

 

Professional Experience

2005-Present Postdoctoral Researcher

Department of Physics

New Mexico State University

 

2003-2005       Postdoctoral Fellow

                        High-Pressure Mineral Physics

Max-Planck Institute for Chemistry

 

1998-2003              Predoctoral Fellow

Carnegie Institution of Washington

Geophysical laboratory

 

Education

2003                Ph.D. in Earth and Planetary Sciences

The Johns Hopkins University and Carnegie Institution of Washington Geophysical Laboratory

Research advisors:  David R. Veblen, Charles T. Prewitt

Thesis: A Study of Light Elements and Water in the Earth’s Interior

 

1998                B. S. in Geology

Stony Brook University

Research advisors:  John B. Parise, Hannah Nekvasil, Donald H. Lindsley

Thesis: High-pressure high-temperature study of negative thermal expansion

             materials ZrW2O8 and HfW2O8

               

Awards and Honors

2006                Bayeriches Geoinstitut Visiting Scientist

2003-2005       Max-Planck Institute for Chemistry Postdoctoral Fellow

1999-2004       Carnegie Institution of Washington Geophysical Laboratory Predoctoral Fellow

2000-2001       Robert Balk Fellowship

1998-1999       Christina L. Balk Fellowship, A.J. Bauernschmidt, Jr. Fellowship, J. Brian Eby Fellowship, Arnold E. Waters, Jr. & Elizabeth Steward Waters Fellowship

1998                Oliver A. Schaeffer Award for Outstanding Achievement and Dedication

1997                Carnegie Institution of Washington Geophysical Laboratory Summer Internship

1995                James Burkehead Memorial Scholarship

 

 

Teaching Experience

2001                Teaching Assistant        Guided Tour of the Planets (course, Johns Hopkins

University)

1999                Teaching Assistant        Crystallography (course and lab, Johns Hopkins

University)

                                                            Mineralogy (course and lab, Johns Hopkins University)

1998                Teaching Assistant        Optical Mineralogy (course and lab, SUNY

StonyBrook)

1997                Teaching Assistant        Mineralogy and Petrology (course and lab, SUNY

                                                            StonyBrook)

1996                Teaching Assistant        Planet Earth (course, SUNY StonyBrook)

 

Publications 

Errandonea, D., Boehler, R., Japel, S., Mezouar, M., and Benedetti, L.R.,Structural transformation of compressed solid Ar: An x-ray diffraction study to 114 GPa,” Physical Review B 73, 092106 (2006)

 

Ross, M., Boehler, R., Japel, S.,Melting of bcc transition metals and icosahedral clustering. Study of Matter at Extreme Conditions,” Journal of the Physics and Chemistry of Solids 67, 2178 (2006)

 

Japel, S., Schwager, B., Boehler, R., Ross, M., “Melting of copper and nickel at high pressure; the role of d electrons,” Physical Review Letters 95, 167801-4 (2005)

 

Dera, P., Prewitt, C. T., Japel, S., Bish, D. L., and Johnston, C. T., “Pressure-controlled polytypism in hydrous layered materials,” American Mineralogist 88, 1428-1435 (2003)

 

Konzett, J., and Kitchel, S., “High P-T phase relations and stability of a (21)-hydrous clinopyribole in the system K2O-Na2O-CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-H2O: An experimental study to 18 GPa,” American Mineralogist 88, 1073-1083 (2003)

 

Dera, P., Hazen, R. M., Kitchel, S., “Phase transitions and high-pressure crystal chemistry of BaCuSi2O6: A novel silicate with Si4O12 rings,” 18th AIRAPT International Conference on High Pressure Science and Technology: Proceedings, 79 (2001)

 

Japel, S., Prewitt, C.T., Boctor, N., Ma, Y., “Crystal chemistry of iron phosphide at pressures to 71GPa and 2000K,” Advanced Photon Source User Activity Report (2001)

 

 

In Preparation

Japel, S., Kiefer, B.,FeP at pressures up to 70GPa, phase transitions, magnetic structure, and EOS,” (in preparation for American Mineralogist)

 

Japel, S., Boehler, R., Ross, M., “The role of f-electrons in the melting behavior of Sn and Pb at high pressure,” (in preparation for Physical Review Letters)

 

Japel S., Prewitt, C.T., Boctor, N., “Iron and nickel phosphides: synthesis, characterization, compressibility,” (in preparation for American Mineralogist)

 

Recent Presentations (2004-present)

2006:               Japel, S., Kiefer, B., “FeP at pressures up to 70GPa, phase transitions, magnetic

structure, and EoS.”  American Geophysical Union fall meeting, abstract number MR51C-08, December 15, 2006

2006:               “High-pressure high-temperature studies in the diamond anvil cell: Applications

in Earth science and beyond,” New Mexico State University Physics Colloquium Series, February 3, 2006

2006:               Iron and nickel phosphides at high temperature and pressure,” Bayrisches

Geoinstitut Experimentelle Geochemie und Geophysik Seminar, July 27, 2006

2006:               “High-pressure melting experiments,” Bayrisches Geoinstitut Doctoral Program

 Lecture, July 20, 2006

2005:               “High-pressure, high-temperature studies in the diamond anvil cell: From

synthesis to experiment,” Max-Planck Institute for Chemistry Seminar, November 18, 2005        

2005:               Japel S., Schwager, B., Boehler, R., Ross,M., “Melting of Cu and Ni: the role of

d-Electrons,” Joint 20th AIRAPT – 43rd EHPRG Conference on Science and Technology of High Pressure

2004:               Japel, S., Boehler, R., Ross, M., “Melting Curve of Copper,” Gordon

Conference for Research at High Pressure

 

Community Service

2006:               Convenor: Earth’s Core (Union Session.) AGU Fall Meeting

Presiding Representative:  Ironworkers Reunion: The Behavior of Iron and Iron-

            Bearing Phases in the Deep Earth I. AGU Fall Meeting

Presiding Representative: Earth’s Core II. AGU Fall Meeting

Presiding Representative: Earth’s Core II Posters. AGU Fall Meeting

2002:               Presiding Representative:  Advances in Mineral and Rock Physics Posters AGU

Fall Meeting

1997:               Presiding Representative:  Prewitt Special Session III: Physical Properties of

                                    Glasses and Mineral Posters, AGU Fall Meeting

 

References

Kanani Lee                  

kanani@physics.nmsu.edu

Department of Physics
MSC 3D PO Box 30001
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM
88003-8001

Phone 505-646-3831
Fax: 505-646-1934

Charles Prewitt            

c.prewitt@gl.ciw.edu

Department of Geosciences

University of Arizona

Gould-Simpson Building #77

1040 E 4th St.

Tucson, AZ 85721

Phone: 520-647-0252

 

Mikhail Eremets

eremets@mpch-mainz.mpg.de

Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (Otto Hahn Institute)

Joh.-J.-Becher-Weg 27

Universitätscampus

D-55128 Mainz

Phone: (0+ 49 6131)305 - 312