Constraints on Earth's inner core composition inferred from measurements of the sound velocity of hcp-iron in extreme conditions.

Hexagonal close-packed iron (hcp-Fe) is a main component of Earth's inner core. The difference in density between hcp-Fe and the inner core in the Preliminary Reference Earth Model (PREM) shows a density deficit, which implies an existence of light elements in the core. Sound velocities then provide an important constraint on the amount and kind of light elements in the core.

Multiphoton ionization and oxidation processes of Mg-ammonia clusters.

Multiphoton ionization and oxidation processes of ammoniated magnesium clusters are investigated by the multiphoton ionization method with an intense femtosecond laser. In the photoionization of mass-selected Mg+ (NH3)n, evaporation dominates at lower laser intensity, while the oxidation reaction to produce H-atom elimination products, MgNH2+ (NH3)m, becomes predominant at higher intensity. In addition to these fragment ions, doubly-charged ions are observed for n > or = 2 at the laser intensity higher than 10(12) W cm(-2).