The mission of SEES (Synchrotron Earth and Environmental Science) is to advance research and education in synchrotron-based Earth and environmental science to better understand our planet from the atmosphere to the core, to address societally relevant problems, and to train the next generation of scientists. SEES is responsible for the management, operation, and development of multiple user facilities hosted at four DOE-operated US synchrotrons: Advanced Photon Source (APS), Advanced Light Source (ALS), National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II), and Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL).
Recent Publications
High Pressure Synthesis of Pr2O5 – A Unique Lanthanoid(IV) Oxide Peroxide
N. T. Flosbach, L. Brüning, P. L. Jurzick, E. Bykova, M. Ekholm, I. A. Abrikosov, M. Amirabbasi, M. Mezouar, B. Wehinger, N. Giordano, T. Fedotenko, V. Prakapenka, S. Chariton, M. S. Wickleder, M. Bykov, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, e202422929. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202422929
Pressure-Modulated Luminescence Enhancement and Quenching in a Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Framework
Sicheng Wang, Peter E. VanNatta, Bin Wang, Zhenxian Liu, Abdullah M. Al‐Enizi, Ayman Nafady, Shengqian Ma, Hao Yan, Pressure‐Modulated Luminescence...
Numerical Investigation Into Mechanical Behavior ofMetastable Olivine During Phase Transformation: Implications for Deep‐Focus Earthquakes
Sindhusuta, S., Chi, S.‐W., Foster, C., Officer, T., & Wang, Y. (2025). Numerical investigation into mechanical behavior of metastable olivine during phase transformation: Implications for deep-focus earthquakes. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 130, e2024JB030557. https://doi.org/10.1029/ 2024JB030557
Nonlinearity of the post-spinel transition and its expression in slabs and plumes worldwide
Dong, J., Fischer, R.A., Stixrude, L.P. et al. Nonlinearity of the post-spinel transition and its expression in slabs and plumes worldwide. Nat Commun 16, 1039 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56231-z
Mobility of cobalt in mine waste: Evidence from a historic silver mining district in Canada
Melissa A.H. Turcotte, Heather E. Jamieson, Michael B. Parsons, Mobility of cobalt in mine waste: Evidence from a historic silver mining district in Canada, Applied Geochemistry, Volume 181, 2025, 106296, ISSN 0883-2927, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2025.106296.
Thorite: An Oddity in Phase Stability Amongst the Zircon-Structured Orthosilicates at High Pressures
Strzelecki, Andrew C., Jason L. Baker, Stella Chariton, Xiaodong Zhao, Vitali Prakapenka, David Bollinger, Sohan Ahmed et al. “Thorite: An Oddity in Phase Stability Amongst the Zircon-Structured Orthosilicates at High Pressures.” American Mineralogist (2025).
Science Highlights
Phase transition kinetics of superionic H2O ice phases revealed by Megahertz X-ray free-electron laser-heating experiments
Husband, R.J., Liermann, H.P., McHardy, J.D. et al. Phase transition kinetics of superionic H2O ice phases revealed by Megahertz X-ray free-electron laser-heating experiments. Nat Commun 15, 8256 (2024).
Structure and transport properties of FeS at planetary core conditions
E. Edmund, T. Bi, Z.M. Geballe, K. Brugman, J.-F. Lin, S. Chariton, V.B. Prakapenka, J. Minár, R.E. Cohen, A.F. Goncharov, Structure and transport properties of FeS at planetary core conditions, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 646, 2024, 118959, ISSN 0012-821X
Compressional and shear wave velocities of Fe-bearing silicate post-perovskite in Earth’s lowermost mantle
Jing Yang, Suyu Fu, Jin Liu, Jung-Fu Lin, Compressional and shear wave velocities of Fe-bearing silicate post-perovskite in Earth’s lowermost mantle, Geoscience Frontiers, 2024, 101915, ISSN 1674-9871
Volatiles and Redox Along the East African Rift
Brounce, M., Scoggins, S., Fischer, T. P., Ford, H., & Byrnes, J. (2024). Volatiles and redox along the East African Rift. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 25, e2024GC011657.
Uranium oxidation states in zircon and other accessory phases
Shane K. Houchin, François L.H. Tissot, Mauricio Ibañez-Mejia, Matthew Newville, Antonio Lanzirotti, Frank Pavia, George Rossman, Uranium oxidation states in zircon and other accessory phases, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2024, ISSN 0016-7037
Latest Happenings
Young scientists attend the 3rd South Science Festival
Children of GSE scientists, Vida and Peter, had a blast learning about science at the South Science Festival, which hosted over 4,500 local attendees.
SEES Booth at GSA Conference
SEES had an exhibition booth at the GSA conference in Anaheim this year. Joanne Stubbs (Beamline...
South Side Science Festival 2024
GSE scientists Tim Officer and Stella Chariton get ready for the South Side Science Festival, Oct 5th
Research at GSE after APS-U featured in ANL Highlight
A new era of research comes into focus as the Advanced Photon Source Upgrade nears completion, GSE scientists anticipate the experimental possibilities.