Visiting Researchers
 |
Institute |
University of Western Australia |
Title |
Associate Research Professor | |
Country |
Australia | |
Period of Stay |
2010/09/04 - 2010/10/03 | |
Research Theme |
Real-time monitoring of melt configuration in rock analogues in 3D | |
Host Researcher |
Yasuko TAKEI |
I am a geologist working at the Western Australian Geothermal Centre of Excellence in Perth, Australia. I am very grateful to Prof. Takei for generously hosting me at ERI, and to Ms. Watanabe and the international office for organising my visit.
My research interest is metamorphic porosity and fluid-rock interaction, which I study in 3- and 4D Synchrotron tomography experiments. During my stay at ERI, I hope to work with Prof. Takei and Dr. McCarthy to develop experiments that will allow us to study the dynamics of partial melting in time-series tomography experiments. I am mainly here to learn from my colleagues in experiments and discussions and hope to be able to contribute a little of my own knowledge to foster a fruitful collaboration.
First of all I would like to express my deep gratitude to all people that were involved in making my stay at ERI such a memorable experience, most of all Prof Takei-san and the International Office.
The scientific goal of my stay was to develop a container of millimeter dimension that will allow us to scan fine-grained mixtures of Borneol and Diphenylamine in a Synchrotron X-ray microtomograph. We planned to prepare a number of samples to conduct preliminary tests at the Advanced Photo Source (USA). We have reached these goals and sent seven samples to the Synchrotron as well as submitted an application for beam time in the first months of 2011 just before my departure on October 2nd. During my stay at ERI I learned how to prepare the sample powders, the containers and produce an organic analogue rock inside them. I believe we moved a large step closer to conducting the first high-resolution melting experiments with organic rock analogues that will be fully documented in 4 dimensions. I furthermore had a chance to discuss with many fellow researchers, notably Takei-san, Koyaguchi-san, Hiraga-san, McCarthy-san and their students at ERI, and thanks to the International Office also with Shimamoto-san and Katayama-san and their students at the University of Hiroshima.
From my perspective my stay at ERI was a great success. I learned a lot, had a great time and definitely became a fan of Shabu-shabu! I am looking forward to the results of our collaboration and my next visit to Tokyo.