Hong-Kun Zeng

Anomalous pressure-dependent viscosity of basaltic melts and its role in asthenosphere melt accumulation

The asthenosphere's mechanical weakness enables plate tectonics, but its origin is debated. Partial melt has been proposed to cause this softening, yet recent studies suggest that the measured viscosity minimum in basaltic melts, an essential control on melt mobility, is an experimental artifact. Using quantum mechanic...