Cosmochemistry, Astrophysics and Experimental Geophysics (CAGE)

The CAGE team (Cosmochemistry, Astrophysics, and Experimental Geophysics) brings together researchers and teachers with common research foci aimed at the formation of the solar system and its early evolution, the formation of the Earth, its differentiation and its ancient geologic history. Our team uses interdisciplinary methods and complimentary skillsets to explore the origin of the solar system, Earth, and life. Our work includes astrophysical numerical modeling, studies of extraterrestrial matter, isotope geochemistry, mineralogy, high-temperature and/or high-pressure physicochemical modeling, along with other congruent fields.

The team members are very involved in IPGP’s development of experimental methods using piston-cylinder, multi-anvil, and laser-heated diamond anvil cell apparatus, aerodynamic levitation heating, controlled atmosphere observations (SEM, FEG FIB), and analytical development of IPGP’s mass spectrometers (MC-ICP-MS Neptune, Triton TIMS, Nobility & HelixSTT for rare gases and in situ coupling with laser ablation). Numerical simulations at IPGP are developed using two computing clusters that comprise our S-CAPAD system. Additionally, our team has open access to ionic probes through INSU’s national service and CRPG (Nancy), as well as various lines of synchrotron radiation (ESRF, APS, DESY). Along with a broad range of geochemical projects, our team members are actively involved in many other research topics and projects including chemical geodynamics of the Earth and major Archean geochemical cycles, the structure and physicochemical properties of minerals and rocks in the deep Earth, and the application of isotopic analysis in medicine.