Ph. Carrez

Structural and chemical alteration of crystalline olivine under low energy He + irradiation

We present the results of irradiation experiments on crystalline olivine with He + ions at energies of 4 and 10 keV and fluences varying from 5 10 16 to 10 18 ions/cm 2 . The aim of these experiments is to simulate ion implantation into interstellar grains in shocks in the ISM. Irradiated samples were analysed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The irradiation causes the amorphization of the olivine, at all He + fluences considered. The thickness of the amorphized region is 40 15 nm and 90 10 nm for the 4 keV and 10 keV experiments, respectively. The amorphization of the olivine occurs in conjunction with an increase in the porosity of the material due to the formation of bubbles. In addition, the amorphized layer is decient in oxygen and magnesium. We nd that the O/Si and Mg/Si ratios decrease as the He + fluence increases. These experiments show that the irradiation of dust in supernova shocks can eciently alter the dust structure and composition. Our result are consistent with the lack of crystalline silicates in the interstellar medium and also with the compositional evolution observed from olivine-type silicates around evolved stars to pyroxene-type silicates around protostars.

Peierls–Nabarro model for dislocations in MgSiO3 post-perovskite calculated at 120 GPa from first principles

We present here the first numerical modelling of dislocations in MgSiO3 post-perovskite at 120 GPa. The dislocation core structures and properties are calculated through the Peierls–Nabarro model using the generalized stacking fault (GSF) results as a starting model. The GSFs are determined from first-principle calculations using the VASP code. Dislocation properties such as planar core spreading and Peierls stresses are determined for the following slip systems: [100](010), [100](001), [100](011), [001](010), [001](110), [001](100), [010](100), [010](001), ½[110](001) and ½[110](110). Our results confirm that the MgSiO3 post-perovskite is a very anisotropic phase with a plasticity dominated by dislocation glide in the (010) plane.

Evidence from numerical modelling for 3D spreading of [001] screw dislocations in Mg2SiO4 forsterite

Computer simulations have previously been used to derive the atomic scale properties of the cores of screw dislocations in Mg2SiO4 forsterite by direct calculation using parameterized potentials and via the Peierls–Nabarro model using density functional theory. We show that, for the [001] screw dislocation, the parameterized potentials reproduce key features of generalized stacking fault energies when compared to the density functional theory results, but that the predicted structure of the dislocation core differs between direct simulation and the Peierls–Nabarro model. The [001] screw dislocation is shown to exhibit a low-energy non-planar core. It is suggested that for this dislocation to move its core may need to change structure and form a high-energy planar structure similar to that derived from the Peierls–Nabarro model. This could lead to dislocation motion via an unlocking–locking mechanism and explain the common experimental observation of long straight screw dislocation segments in deformed olivine.

Transmission electron microscopy of dislocations in cementite deformed at high pressure and high temperature

Abstract Polycrystalline aggregates of cementite (Fe3C) and (Fe,Ni)3C have been synthesised at 10 GPa and 1250 °C in the multianvil apparatus. Further, deformation of the carbides by stress relaxation has been carried out at temperature of 1250 °C and for 8 h at the same pressure. Dislocations have been characterised by transmission electron microscopy. They are of the [1 0 0] and [0 0 1] type, [1 0 0] being the most frequent. [1 0 0] dislocations are dissociated and glide in the (0 1 0) plane. [0 0 1] dislocations glide in (1 0 0) and (0 1 0). Given the plastic anisotropy of cementite, the morphology of the lamellae in pearlitic steels appears to have a major role in the strengthening role played by this phase, since activation of easy slip systems is geometrically inhibited in most cases.

Fat Plumes May Reflect the Complex Rheology of the Lower Mantle

Abstract Recent tomographic imaging of the mantle below major hot spots shows slow seismic velocities extending down to the core‐mantle boundary, confirming the existence of mantle plumes. However, these plumes are much thicker than previously thought. Using new laboratory experiments and scaling laws, we show that thermal plumes developing in a visco‐plastic fluid present much larger diameters than plumes developing in a Newtonian fluid. Such a rheology requiring a yield stress is consistent with a lower mantle predominantly deforming by pure dislocation climb. Yield stress values between 1 and 10 MPa, implying dislocation densities between 108 and 1010 m−2, would be sufficient to reproduce the plumes morphology observed in tomographic images.