Research Interests & Current Projects

Continued Long-term Projects:

These projects cover a wide spectrum of topics in Petrology, Mineralogy, Tectonics, Geochronology, Geochemistry and Planetary Sciences, which are connected to the central theme of my research on Thermodynamics, Phase Equilibrium and Diffusion Kinetics in relation to terrestrial and planetary processes. The current specific research topics are as follows:

· Diffusion kinetics, thermobarometry and tectono-metamorphic processes: Fundamental aspects, modeling and applications

· Crystal kinetics (diffusion and order-disorder) and thermodynamic studies of planetary materials, and integration with thermal modeling to constrain the thermal histories of meteorite parent bodies, early solar system chronology (using short-lived decay systems), and size of planetesimals

· Closure-temperatures and -age profiles of minerals in cooling geochronological systems, and applications to the thermochronology of terrestrial and planetary problems

· Experimental and theoretical studies of the energetic properties (thermodynamic, crystal chemical, diffusion and order-disorder) of minerals

These are on-going long term projects with continued grant supports, and involve fundamental studies relating to the developments of thermometers, barometers and chronometers, as well as development of numerical modeling protocols, and their applications to natural processes.

Some New Directions:

· Subduction zone dynamics: Interplay among the thermal and mineralogical processes in the subduction zone environments, density structure of subducting slab and surrounding mantle & implications for plate subduction

· Mineral stabilities in the Earth's interior

· Trace element evolution of magmas incorporating the diffusion kinetic and dynamic effects, and their applications to constrain the source regions for magma generation, extent of partial melting and magma dynamics.

· Adiabatic melting process in the mantle and mantle plumes.