Center for Study of Matter at Extreme Conditions

 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):