We strive to better understand how planet-scale observables are fundamentally controlled by the behavior of atoms at extreme conditions. Using X-ray scattering techniques, we probe interactions of nuclei and electrons at high pressures and temperatures. Our work informs the physical properties and dynamic history of the Earth and other planets both within and without our solar system.
A common theme for many of our research projects is atomic mobility. As we push the boundaries of high pressure and fast timescales, kinetics and rate-dependent phenomena control experimental access to properties such as phase stability, phase transformation mechanisms, and defect propagation.
June in Princeton Lab
Assistant Professor June Wicks is based in the Dept. of Earth & Planetary Sciences (Olin Hall) and the Hopkins Extreme Materials Institute (Malone Hall), and also holds a joint appointment in the Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.
April 2, 2023 Congratulations to Anirudh Hari for being selected for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship! Anirudh has been with the Wicks Lab since February 2020, and graduated with a BS in Physics with honors from Johns Hopkins in May 2022. Since then, he has continued his work with the Wicks Lab, presenting at multiple...
December 28, 2022 Anirudh Hari, who completed his BS in Physics in May 2022, has published his work titled “High pressure phase transition and strength estimate in polycrystalline alumina during laser-driven shock compression” in Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter. The paper, co-first-authored by Wicks Lab high school student Rohit Hari, was published as part of...
March 14, 2022 Congratulations to graduate student Tyler Perez for being awarded an Outstanding Student Presentation Award (OSPA) for his presentation at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) 2021 Fall Meeting! OSPAs are awarded to promote, recognize and reward students for quality research in the geophysical sciences. Tyler’s presentation was titled “Measuring the Thermal Conductivity of Iron at Extreme...
