Coexisting solid and liquid magnesium silicate
Magnesium silicate is very important in the earth sciences, because it is the material that makes up most of the volume of the Earth. At great depths, magnesium silicate may be partly molten, and scientists are very interested in finding out the temperature at which it melts at the very high pressures deep inside the Earth. The image is a snap-shot of an atomic-scale computer simulation based on quantum theory, in which liquid (on the left) and solid (on the right) are seen coexisting.
This image was created by Professor Dario Alfe (UCL Physics and Astronomy) and Professor John Brodholt (UCL Earth Sciences). It is one of set marking the inauguration of the Materials Simulation Laboratory, a network of the 30 and more UCL research groups engaged in the computer modelling of materials.
Your image
If you are a staff member or student who
has generated an image related to your work or study, please send a
72dpi version and caption, with your name and department, to UCL Views who will consider it for use on the UCL homepage.
