The University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, and the Field Museum have established the Chicago Center for Cosmochemistry, which is dedicated to promoting education and research in cosmochemistry. The Center builds on the strength of the cosmochemistry community in Chicago and superb research facilities available at the three institutions involved, and provides support for graduate students, postdoctoral research associates and visiting scientists.
Major projects underway include: (1) measurement of meteoritic stardust grains coupled with nucleosynthesis theory to probe stellar processes and the origin of the elements; (2) isotopic and chemical studies of meteorites and rocks to probe the early history of the solar system, planet formation and early earth history; (3) studies of the Sun, planets, asteroids and comets through current and future sample return missions and spaceflight instruments; (4) experimental investigations into the chemical and physical processes of the early solar system and planet formation.
Research facilities include laser resonant ionization mass spectrometers for extremely high sensitivity isotopic and chemical analyses, a variety of x-ray microanalytical facilities on beam lines at the Advanced Photon Source, several types of mass spectrometers, ion and electron microprobes, electron microscopes, experimental petrology equipment, machine and electronics shops for building new laboratory and spaceflight instruments, and a wide array of computational facilities.
For more information about the Chicago Center for Cosmochemistry, contact the C3 Director, Prof. Andrew Davis.