Introduction to Static and Dynamic High-Pressure Mineral Physics

In October of 2018, a group of scientists gathered at the Broad Branch Road campus of the Carnegie Institution for Science to celebrate 50 years of high-pressure research by Ho-Kwang “Dave” Mao at the Geophysical Laboratory. The celebration highlighted the growth of high-pressure mineral physics over the last half century, which has matured into a vibrant discipline in the physical sciences because of its intimate connections to Earth and planetary sciences, solid-state physics, and materials science. Dave’s impact in high-pressure research for over a half a century has been immense, with a history of innovation and discovery spanning from the Earth and planetary sciences to fundamental materials physics. Dave has always been an intrepid pioneer in high-pressure science, and together with his numerous colleagues and collaborators across the world he has driven the field to ever higher pressures and temperatures, guided the community in adopting and adapting a spectrum of new technologies for in situ interrogation of samples at extreme conditions, and relentlessly explored the materials that make up the deep interiors of planets. In this volume, we assemble 15 chapters from authors who have worked with, been inspired by, or mentored by Dave over his amazing career, spanning a range of subjects that covers the entire field of high-pressure mineral physics.