The effect of compositional fluctuations in a liquid Fe–O alloy on the nucleation of Earth’s inner core
摘要
The Earth’s solid inner core plays a fundamental role in determining the past and present properties and dynamics of the Earth’s deep interior. Inner core growth powers the geodynamo, producing the protective global magnetic field, and provides a record of core evolution spanning geological timescales. However, the origins of the inner core remain enigmatic. Traditional core evolution models assume that the inner core formed when the core first cooled to its melting temperature, but this neglects the physical requirement that liquids must be supercooled to below their melting point before freezing. Prior estimates from mineral physics calculations of the supercooling