Séminaire de Renaud Deguen

« Dynamics of core-mantle differentiation and equilibration »

The basic structure of the terrestrial planets – an iron-rich metallic core surrounded by a silicate mantle – has been set during the accretion of the planets, when the high temperature allowed the metal and silicate phases to melt and separate. The amount of transfert of chemical elements and heat between the metal and silicates that occurred during this differentiation process is critical for the composition and initial temperature of the core and mantle. I will present recent results on the dynamics of metal/silicates equilibration during core formation, with a focus on the physical mechanisms behind metal-silicates equilibration and metal fragmentation.