Sally June
TracyShe/Her

Mineralogy & Mineral Physics

Sally June Tracy is interested in materials in extreme environments with applications to both mineral physics and materials science.

Sally June Tracy and her research group use high-pressure-temperature experiments to explore the physical properties and phase stability of materials under extreme conditions up to and exceeding those at the center of the Earth. This includes studies of crystal structures, phase stability, elasticity, and deformation behavior. 

Her main tools include laser-drive and gas-gun dynamic compression coupled with laser interferometry and X-ray probes. Additionally, we use diamond-anvil cells combined with synchrotron X-ray scattering to investigate the crystal structure, lattice dynamics, and spin state of materials under static high-pressure and temperature conditions. This work provides experimental constraints on subjects ranging from planetary formation, high-pressure phases of deep planetary interiors, and materials for extreme applications. 

Sally June Tracy

Staff Scientist
Washington, DC

language Personal Website phone 202-478-8955

CV

A Virtual Conversation with Materials Physicist Sally Tracy

Carnegie Science Neighborhood Lecture Series - Dr. Sally June Tracy

Day 3 - Sally June Tracy

Illustration of new eight-coordinated, intrinsically discorded mineral courtesy of Rajkrishna Dutta.

Working with magnesium germanate, Mg2GeO4, analogous to one of the mantle’s most abundant silicate minerals, the team was able to glean information about the potential mineralogy of super-Earths and other large, rocky exoplanets. Under about 2 million times normal atmospheric pressure a new phase emerged with a distinct crystalline structure that involves one germanium bonded with eight oxygens. The new eight-coordinated, intrinsically discorded mineral is expected to strongly affect the internal temperature and dynamics of these planets. Illustration is courtesy of Rajkrishna Dutta.

What’s Happening In The Depths Of Distant Worlds?