Chenguang Sun

My research is motivated by a strong interest in quantitative understanding the thermal and chemical evolution of Earth and other rocky planetary bodies. I am particularly interested in the following topics:

- Origin and distribution of volatiles in terrestrial planets
- Influences of volatile (re)cycling on planetary magmatism
- Generation and differentiation of various types of magmas
- Planetary differentiation and habitability
- Thermal histories of terrestrial and planetary materials

To approach these problems, I develop testable geochemical/petrological models through high-temperature, high-pressure laboratory experiments and apply these tools to field samples (or observations) for decoding the temperatures, pressures, redox conditions, and rates of Earth and planetary processes as well as the interactions between the planet interior and surface. The fundamental aspects of my research include deep volatile cycle, thermobarometry and speedometry of Earth and planetary materials, and equilibrium/disequilibrium chemical fractionation.