Authors
Kenji Ohta, Yasuhiro Kuwayama, Kei Hirose, Katsuya Shimizu, Yasuo Ohishi
Publication date
2016/6/2
Journal
Nature
Volume
534
Issue
7605
Pages
95-98
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group UK
Description
Earth continuously generates a dipole magnetic field in its convecting liquid outer core by a self-sustained dynamo action. Metallic iron is a dominant component of the outer core, so its electrical and thermal conductivity controls the dynamics and thermal evolution of Earth’s core. However, in spite of extensive research, the transport properties of iron under core conditions are still controversial,,,,,,,. Since free electrons are a primary carrier of both electric current and heat, the electron scattering mechanism in iron under high pressure and temperature holds the key to understanding the transport properties of planetary cores. Here we measure the electrical resistivity (the reciprocal of electrical conductivity) of iron at the high temperatures (up to 4,500 kelvin) and pressures (megabars) of Earth’s core in a laser-heated diamond-anvil cell. The value measured for the resistivity of iron is even lower than the value …
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