I am interested in magma genesis and volatile solubility on exoplanets, Earth, and solar system bodies, the timescales of events in magmatic systems, geothermometry, volcano science and hazards, high-silica magmatic systems, and how our planet's volcanologic and petrologic mechanisms can be used to understand those on other planets and moons.
My current research projects use experimental petrology to study exoplanet magmas and use diffusion chronometry to examine timescales of effusive eruptions at Yellowstone.
2015–current
Partial melting and solubility experiments to determine crust compositions; anhydrous solidi; and volatile and bioessential element solubilities of rocky planets orbiting other stars.
Brugman, K., Phillips, M.G., Till, C.B. (2021) Experimental Determination of Mantle Solidi and Melt Compositions for Two Likely Rocky Exoplanet Compositions. JGR: Planets, 10.1029/2020JE006731.
2014–2022
Development of a new diffusion chronometry method to compare pre-eruptive timescales from Fe-rich clinopyroxene to timescales from other minerals. This project examines the last events recorded by minerals in the Scaup Lake flow, a Yellowstone post-caldera rhyolite.
Brugman, K., Till, C.B. Bose, M. (2022) Common Assumptions and Methods Yield Overestimated Diffusive Timescales, as Exemplified in a Yellowstone Post-Caldera Lava. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 10.1007/s00410-022-01926-5.
2017–2019
Development of a new clinopyroxene-liquid geothermometer specifically calibrated for the low-Al, high-Fe clinopyroxene found in high-silica igneous systems.
Brugman, K.K., and Till, C.B. (2019) A low-aluminum clinopyroxene-liquid geothermometer for high-silica magmatic systems. American Mineralogist, 10.2138/am-2019-6842.
2023–current
2020–2022
April 2020
Dissertation: Timescales and Characteristics of Magma Generation in Earth and Exoplanets
May 2014
Honors thesis: Understanding the History of Arabia Terra, Mars Through Crater-Based Tests
* invited # talk
I created a couple videos that document the construction of Ichiban Watch the full assembly video | Watch the timelapse only
FORCE's 6000 ton uniaxial multi-anvil, Ichiban, is complete!
| View the construction update|
I had a brush with fame when my (blurry) photograph was featured in a Washington Post article about high pressure research at ASU
| Read the WaPo article|
I joined Dr. Michael Wong and other Carnegie Earth & Planets Lab postdocs for a Neighborhood Lecture about "The Science of Star Trek"
| Watch the full video |
I was featured on the Carnegie Earth & Planets Lab website
| Read the Postdoc Spotlight |
During quarantine/CoronaTimes/The Wrong Timeline I've been continuing my experimental work at EPIC (ASU), including some drop-quench experiments conducted in our vertical furnace
| Watch slow-motion videos |
I recorded a lab tour video for ASU SESE's new students, since they can't visit labs in person during the pandemic
| Visit the EPIC lab |
I talked about my exoplanet experiments and 'Star Trek: Picard' on the
'Strange New Worlds' science and Trek podcast
| Listen to Episode 89: Strange New Melts |
FORCE: Facility for Open Research in a Compressed Environment
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
kara [dot] brugman [at] gmail [dot] com
kara [dot] brugman [at] asu [dot] edu