This award provides one-third of the funds required for the purchase of an infrared (IR) spectrometer system with capabilities for near-, mid-, and far-IR measurements. The instrumentation is to be installed and operated in the Department of Chemistry at the Arizona State University. The University is committed to providing the remaining funds needed for this acquisition. Researchers in the Chemistry Department have an intensive research program in mineralogy and geochemistry which requires access to state-of-the-art infrared spectrometry. Current research projects include: (1) structural studies of silicate and aluminosilicate glasses, (2) studies of water solution in silicate glasses and melts, (3) atomic order-disorder problems in aluminosilicates, (4) structural and thermodynamic studies of high-pressure phases.
