Experimental Investigation of Planetary Interiors using Electrical Measurements

The electrical conductivity of mantle and core analogs is particularly relevant to investigating the structure and dynamics of planetary interiors. Being a transport property sensitive to temperature, pressure, and chemistry (including volatiles and fluids), electrical conductivity can be used to explore the compositional and thermal state of terrestrial planets and moons. In particular, the combination of electrical experiments in the laboratory with acoustic (seismic) experiments, field observations, and petrological constraints is used to locate the origin of primary magmas, constrain the extent of melting, locate aqueous fluid reservoirs, and identify the main chemical fluxes at depth. Electrical conductivity can also be used to study the state of a metallic core and investigate the generation of an intrinsic magnetic field by thermochemical convection. This presentation will highlight the unique potential of electrical studies to investigate terrestrial mantles and cores through the examples of the Earth, Mercury, and the Moon."