ICAM Themes
John P. Kaszuba
Los Alamos National Laboratory
CST-7, MS J514
Los Alamos, NM 87545
505-665-7832
505-665-4955
Todayís scientific challenges extend beyond the boundaries of traditional disciplines. The strength of the Complex Adaptive Matter (CAM) paradigm is that it provides a framework in which to explore these new challenges.
Research Themes in a Familiar System - Actinide Geochemistry
Classic solubility relationships control ion concentrations in aqueous solution. Multi-valent actinide elements, however, provide an additional degree of freedom and create intrinsic nonlinearities in aqueous systems. Significant amounts of oxidized actinide aqueous species can co-exist with reduced actinide solids. Soluble concentrations of the oxidized actinide species are orders-of-magnitude greater than the limits imposed by the solubility-controlling solid. These concentrations are an exponential function of the redox state of this system. Redox reactions and solubility are an example of complex, nonlinear behavior of actinide elements in aqueous systems. Complex behavior by actinide elements in geochemical systems is one research theme that can be explored by ICAM.
Research Themes in New Systems
Material science and the origin of life is a potential theme for ICAM. A recent paper (Smith, 1998) suggests that life may have originated on internal mineral surfaces by polymerization and assembly of replicating catalytic biomolecules. Assembly on internal surfaces is an important concept to exploring the origin of life because internal mineral surfaces provide a means of protection from solar radiation.
The scientific principles underlying interfacial science and relationships at phase boundaries is a worthwhile theme for ICAM. One specific topic within this broad theme is to understand why species sorbed on surfaces exhibit different properties than the same species in bulk solution.