Center for Study of Matter at Extreme Conditions

CeSMEC Facility COVID-19 Protocol

Center for Study of Matter at Extreme Conditions (VH-150) is implementing a gradual re-opening program. To work in CeSMEC facility, you must observe the following protocols for the safety of others, yourself, and to combat the spread of COVID-19.

CeSMEC facility access is granted based on case by case approval and only for experimental work.

• The Lab will be open to no more than 2 users at a time per lab to maintain the CDC social distancing guideline.
• Working in shifts is permitted honoring the 2 users per lab guideline.
• Plan your experiments accordingly with the Lab Manager, Dr. Andriy Durygin in order to avoid access conflict.
• Do not enter the lab if you are not feeling well, contact campus health.
• Wash or sanitize hands frequently
• Wear gloves & face covering, avoid touching your face.
• Clean keyboard (instrument controls, the surface of work) before and after each user session. Use paper towels/wipes soaked in IPA/H20 for cleaning, to be provided by the unit.

For more information please visit fiu.edu/coronavirus

Point of Contact:
PI Jiuhua Chen: 626 298 9976/chenj@fiu.edu
Dr. Andriy Durygin: 786 239 0935 (CeSMEC Lab Manager)
Dr. Vadym Drozd: 305 799 4962 (CeSMEC Research Associate)

About the center

CeSMEC is an interdisciplinary center that combines physics, chemistry, geosciences, and materials engineering. Center is engaged in fundamental research related to the materials, environment, focusing on using Engineering methods for alternative energy, Carbon capture, and high-pressure science. Actively engaging students in research and the pursuit of excellence has always been a guiding principle for CeSMEC.

CeSMEC is situated on the MMC campus of FIU in the building Viertes Haus (VH).

The building of the center started in the summer of 2000 under the leadership of prof S. K. Saxena. We are equipped with all the state-of-art facilities operating for frontiers research in the areas of materials science, high-pressure physics, and geophysics with many cross-disciplinary linkages to programs in metallurgy, ceramics, and chemistry.

CeSMEC Goals

Scientific goals

Use theoretical and experimental tools of CeSMEC to study terrestrial planetary interiors by studying the physical and chemical interactions among solids and fluids at extreme conditions Build and maintain a superdatabase on inorganic materials to explore regularities of physical and chemical behavior and develop semi-empirical models to understand the physics and chemistry of materials

Engineering goals

Synthesize new materials with unusual properties and improve the existing materials Unusual properties may require unusual chemical and physical conditions

Technology development

Reach the highest static pressures in hot materials for in situ x-ray and spectroscopic characterization with precise simultaneous determination of pressure and temperature Reach the highest temperatures in the laboratory with precise measurement of temperatures

Why is the CeSMEC unique?

In the State of Florida , CeSMEC is the only high pressure research center where materials can be studied at extremes of pressure and temperatures (see below):

X-ray diffraction			Raman Spectroscopy
Pressure .0001- 500,000 atm	Temperature 300- 3000 K	Combined to 300,000 atm T:300-1500 K	Pressure .0001-3 Million atm	Temperature 300-1300 K	Combined P to 300,000 atm T:300-1500

High P and T Imaging			Reactions and thermophysics
Pressure .0001-3 Million atm	Temperature 300- 3000 K	Combined P to 300,000 atm T:300-1500 K	Laser heating and ablation Several 1000 K	Combined P to 3Million atm T to 4000 K Laser	Combined P to 3Million atm and T to1300 K (electric)