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Matthew L. Whitaker
Matt Whitaker is a Research Assistant Professor in the Mineral Physics Institute and
Department of Geosciences at Stony Brook University and a Partner User Beamline Scientist
for the high pressure Multi-Anvil program at the XPD beamline at NSLS-II (MAXPD).
He also currently serves as a high pressure Beamline Scientist for beamline 6-BM-B
at the APS, and is the co-PI of the COnsortium for Materials Properties Research in
Earth Sciences (COMPRES) Multi-Anvil Facilities Program, which supports the two aforementioned
beamlines.
Prior to these current appointments, Matt was an Assistant Professor in the Department
of Earth Sciences at Ehime University in Matsuyama, Japan, and then served as High
Pressure Beamline Scientist for X17B2 at NSLS-I from 2011 until its closure in 2014.
He has been an active synchrotron user for over fifteen years at fifteen different
beamlines at four different synchrotron facilities in two countries. Presently, he
is an active user at the SRX, TES, XFM, and XPD beamlines at NSLS-II and has served
on the NSLS-II UEC starting in 2019. During this time, he co-created and continues
to host the wildly popular NSLS-II UEC Show and has worked to increase UEC involvement
both at NSLS-II and across the DOE Light Sources.
Matt's interests lie in adapting synchrotron techniques to study everything from high
pressure minerals and materials science to meteorites and planetary analogs. He is very interested in pursuing multi-modal studies of materials using multiple
techniques available at multiple beamlines, particularly at NSLS-II.
Selected Publications
33. Laasch, R., Liu, Z., Ma, L., Nicholas, S., Northrup, P., Thieme, J., Whitaker,
M.L. (2023) From Outer Space to the Center of the Earth: How NSLS-II Capabilities
Enable Geoscience Studies. Synchrotron Radiation News. DOI: 10.1080/08940886.2022.2156752
32. Tamerius, A.D., Altman, A.B., Waters, M.J., Riesel, E.A., Malliakas, C.D., Whitaker, M.L., Yu, T., Fabbris, G., Meng, Y., Haskel, D., Wang, Y., Jacobsen, S.D., Rondinelli, J.M., Freedman, D.E. (2022) Synthesis of the Candidate Topological Compound Ni3Pb2. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 144 (27), 11943-11948. DOI 10.1021/jacs.2c03485
31. Traylor, T.K., Burnley, P.C., Whitaker, M.L. (2021) Initial Acoustoelastic Measurements in Olivine: Investigating the Effect of Stress on P- and S-wave Velocities. Journal of Geophysical Research - Solid Earth. DOI 10.1029/2021JB022494
30. Bejina, F., Bystricky, M., Terce, N., Whitaker, M.L., Chen, H. (2021) Equation of state and sound wave velocities of fayalite at high pressures and temperatures: Implications for the seismic properties of the Martian mantle. European Journal of Mineralogy, 33, 519-535. DOI 10.5194/ejm-33-519-2021
29. Simos, N., Charitonidis, N., Simon, P., Whitaker, M.L., Zhong, H., Ghose, S., Zhong, Z., Quaranta, E., Guardia-Valenzuela, J., Accettura, C., Bertarelli, A., Redaelli, S., Kotsina, Z., Sprouster, D. (2021) Proton irradiation effects in Molybdenum-Carbide-Graphite composites. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 553, 153049. DOI 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2021.153049
28. Gwanmesia, G.D., Whitaker, M.L., Dai, L., James, A., Chen, H., Triplett, R.S., Cai, N. (2020) The Elastic Properties of -Mg2SiO4 Containing 0.73 wt. % H2O to 10 GPa and 600 K by Ultrasonic Interferometry with Synchrotron X-Radiation. Minerals, 10 (3), 209. DOI 10.3390/min10030209
27. Sims, M.L., Jaret, S.J., Johnson, J.R., Whitaker, M.L., Glotch, T.D. (2020) Unconventional High-Pressure Raman Spectroscopy Study of Kinetic and Peak Pressure Effects in Plagioclase Feldspars. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 47 (2), 12. DOI 10.1007/s00269-020-01080-z
26. Hunt, S.A., Whitaker, M.L., Bailey, E., Mariani, E., Stan, C.V., and Dobson, D.P. (2019) An Experimental Investigation of the Relative Strength of the Silica Polymorphs Quartz, Coesite, and Stishovite. G3: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 20, 1975-1989. DOI 10.1029/2018GC007842
25. Bejina, F., Bystricky, M., Terce, N., Whitaker, M.L., Chen, H. (2019) Bulk Modulus of Fe-Rich Olivines Corrected for Non-Hydrostaticity. Comptes Rendus Geoscience, 351, 86-94. DOI 10.1016/j.crte.2018.06.002
24. Li, L., Weidner, D.J., Whitaker, M.L., Triplett, R.S. (2018) Ultrasonic Acoustic Wave Velocities of Neighborite (NaMgF3) Across Orthorhombic to Cubic Phase Boundary at High P-T. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 283, 38-42. DOI 10.1016/j.pepi.2018.08.002
23. Rucks, M.J., Whitaker, M.L., Glotch, T.D., Parise, T.D., Jaret, S.J., Catalano, T., Dyar, M.D. (2018) Making Tissintite: Mimicking Meteorites in the Multi-Anvil. American Mineralogist, 103(9), 1516-1519. DOI 10.2138/am-2018-6539
22. Li, L., Whitaker, M.L., Weidner, D.J. (2018) Elastic Wave Velocity Measurement Using Ultrasonic System with Two Reflectors. Review of Scientific Instruments, 89(8), 086105. (Editor’s Pick) DOI 10.1063/1.5041802
21. Cheung, C.S.N., Weidner, D.J., Li, L., Meredith, P.G., Chen, H., Whitaker, M.L., and Chen, X. (2018) Stress Distribution During Cold Compression of Rocks and Mineral Aggregates Using X-ray Diffraction at Beamline 6-BM-B of the Advanced Photon Source. Journal of Visualized Experiments. (135), e57555, DOI 10.3791/57555
20. Weidner, D.J., Li, L., Whitaker, M.L., and Triplett, R.S. (2018) Ultrasonic Acoustic Velocities During Partial Melting of the Mantle Peridotite, KLB-1. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 123(2) 1252-1261. DOI 10.1002/2017JB014753
19. Cheung, C.S.N., Weidner, D.J., Li, L., Meredith, P.G., Chen, H., Whitaker, M.L., and Chen, X. (2017) Stress Distribution During Cold Compression of a Quartz Aggregate Using Synchrotron X-Ray Diffraction: Observed Yielding, Damage and Grain Crushing. Journal of Geophysical Research: Sold Earth, 122(4) 2724-2735. DOI 10.1002/2016JB013653
18. Whitaker, M.L., Baldwin, K.J., and Huebsch, W.R. (2017) DIASCoPE: Directly Integrated Acoustic System Combined with Pressure Experiments – A new method for fast acoustic velocity measurements at high pressure. Review of Scientific Instruments, 88, 034901. DOI 10.1063/1.4977596
17. Dobson, D.P., Hunt, S.A., Ahmed, J., Lord, O.T., Wann, E., Santangeli, J., Wood, I.G., Vocadlo, L., Walker, A., Mueller, H.J., Lathe, C., Whitaker, M.L., Morard, G., and Mezouar, M. (2016) The Phase Diagram of NiSi Under the Conditions of Small Planetary Interiors. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 261, 196-206. DOI 10.1016/j.pepi.2016.10.005
16. Hunt, S.A., Weidner, D.J., McCormack, R.J., Whitaker, M.L., Bailey, E., Li, L., Vaughan, M.T., and Dobson, D.P. (2014) Deformation T-Cup: A new multi-anvil apparatus for controlled strain-rate deformation experiments at pressures above 18 GPa. Review of Scientific Instruments, 85, 085103. DOI 10.1063/1.4891338
15. Fujino, K., Nishio-Hamane, D., Nagai, T., Seto, Y., Kuwayama, Y., Whitaker, M.L., Ohfuji, H., Shinmei, T., and Irifune, T. (2014) Spin Transition, Substitution, and Partitioning of Iron in Lower Mantle Minerals. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 228, 186-191. DOI 10.1016/j.pepi.2013.12.008
14. Matsukage, K.N., Nagayo, Y., Whitaker, M.L., Takahashi, E., and Kawasaki, T. (2013) Melting of the Martian mantle from 1.0 to 4.5 GPa. Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences, 108, 201-214. DOI 10.2465/jmps.120820
13. Fujino, K., Nishio-Hamane, D., Kuwayama, Y., Sata, N., Murakami, S., Whitaker, M.L., Shinozaki, A., Ohfuji, H., Kojima, Y., Irifune, T., Hiraoka, N., Ishii, H., and Ku-Ding, T. (2013) Spin transition and substitution of Fe3+ in Al-bearing post-Mg-perovskite. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 217, 31-35. DOI 10.1016/j.pepi.2013.01.006
12. Zou, Y., Irifune, T., Greaux, S., Whitaker, M.L., Shinmei, T., Ohfuji, H., Negishi, R., and Higo, Y. (2012) Elasticity and sound velocities of polycrystalline Mg3Al2(SiO4)3 garnet up to 20 GPa and 1700 K. Journal of Applied Physics, 112, 014910, 1-9. DOI 10.1063/1.4736407
11. Zou, Y., Greaux, S., Irifune, T., Whitaker, M.L., Shinmei, T., and Higo, Y. (2012) Thermal Equation of state of Mg3Al2Si3O12 pyrope garnet up to 19 GPa and 1700 K. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 39(7) 589-598. DOI 10.1007/s00269-012-0514-z
10. Liu, W., Whitaker, M.L., Liu, Q., Wang, L., Nishiyama, N., Wang, Y., Kubo, A., Duffy, T.S., and Li, B. (2011) Thermal Equation of State of CaIrO3 Post-Perovskite. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 38(5) 407-417. DOI 10.1007/s00269-010-0414-z
9. Whitaker, M.L., Liu, W., Wang, L., and Li, B. (2010) Acoustic Velocities and Elastic Properties of Pyrite (FeS2) to 9.6 GPa. Journal of Earth Science, 21(5) 792-800. DOI 10.1007/s12583-010-0115-z
8. Liu, Q., Liu W., Whitaker M.L., Wang L., and Li B. (2010), In situ ultrasonic velocity measurements across the fayalite-spinel transformation in Fe2SiO4. American Mineralogist, 95(7) 1000-1005. DOI 10.2138/am.2010.3369
7. Liu, W., Liu, Q., Whitaker, M.L., Zhao, Y., and Li, B. (2009) Experimental and theoretical studies on the elasticity of molybdenum to 12 GPa. Journal of Applied Physics, 106(4) 043506. DOI 10.1063/1.3197135
6. Whitaker, M.L., Liu, W., Liu, Q., Wang, L., and Li, B. (2009) Thermoelasticity of -FeSi to 8 GPa and 1273 K. American Mineralogist, 94(7) 1039-1044. DOI 10.2138/am.2009.3166
5. Liu, Q., Liu, W., Whitaker, M.L., Wang, L., and Li, B. (2008) Compressional and shear wave velocities of Fe2SiO4 spinel at high pressure and high temperature. High Pressure Research, 28(3), 405-413. DOI 10.1080/08957950802296287
4. Whitaker, M.L., Liu, W., Liu, Q., Wang, L., and Li, B. (2008) Combined in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction and ultrasonic interferometry study of -FeSi at high pressure. High Pressure Research, 28(3), 385-395. DOI 10.1080/08957950802246480
3. Whitaker, M.L., Nekvasil, H., Lindsley, D.H., and McCurry, M. (2008) Can crystallization of olivine tholeiite give rise to potassic rhyolites? An experimental investigation. Bulletin of Volcanology, 70(3), 417-434. DOI 10.1007/s00445-007-0146-1
2. Whitaker, M.L., Lindsley, D.H., Kubicek-Whitaker, J.M. and Nekvasil, H. (2007) Carbon is not required during crystallization to produce ferrobasalts/ferrodiorites (FTP rocks). American Mineralogist, 92(10), 1750-1755. DOI 10.2138/am.2007.2643
1. Whitaker, M.L., Nekvasil, H., Lindsley, D.H., and DiFrancesco, N.J. (2007) The role of pressure in producing compositional diversity in intraplate basaltic magmas. Journal of Petrology, 48(2), 365-393. DOI 10.1093/petrology/egl063
32. Tamerius, A.D., Altman, A.B., Waters, M.J., Riesel, E.A., Malliakas, C.D., Whitaker, M.L., Yu, T., Fabbris, G., Meng, Y., Haskel, D., Wang, Y., Jacobsen, S.D., Rondinelli, J.M., Freedman, D.E. (2022) Synthesis of the Candidate Topological Compound Ni3Pb2. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 144 (27), 11943-11948. DOI 10.1021/jacs.2c03485
31. Traylor, T.K., Burnley, P.C., Whitaker, M.L. (2021) Initial Acoustoelastic Measurements in Olivine: Investigating the Effect of Stress on P- and S-wave Velocities. Journal of Geophysical Research - Solid Earth. DOI 10.1029/2021JB022494
30. Bejina, F., Bystricky, M., Terce, N., Whitaker, M.L., Chen, H. (2021) Equation of state and sound wave velocities of fayalite at high pressures and temperatures: Implications for the seismic properties of the Martian mantle. European Journal of Mineralogy, 33, 519-535. DOI 10.5194/ejm-33-519-2021
29. Simos, N., Charitonidis, N., Simon, P., Whitaker, M.L., Zhong, H., Ghose, S., Zhong, Z., Quaranta, E., Guardia-Valenzuela, J., Accettura, C., Bertarelli, A., Redaelli, S., Kotsina, Z., Sprouster, D. (2021) Proton irradiation effects in Molybdenum-Carbide-Graphite composites. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 553, 153049. DOI 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2021.153049
28. Gwanmesia, G.D., Whitaker, M.L., Dai, L., James, A., Chen, H., Triplett, R.S., Cai, N. (2020) The Elastic Properties of -Mg2SiO4 Containing 0.73 wt. % H2O to 10 GPa and 600 K by Ultrasonic Interferometry with Synchrotron X-Radiation. Minerals, 10 (3), 209. DOI 10.3390/min10030209
27. Sims, M.L., Jaret, S.J., Johnson, J.R., Whitaker, M.L., Glotch, T.D. (2020) Unconventional High-Pressure Raman Spectroscopy Study of Kinetic and Peak Pressure Effects in Plagioclase Feldspars. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 47 (2), 12. DOI 10.1007/s00269-020-01080-z
26. Hunt, S.A., Whitaker, M.L., Bailey, E., Mariani, E., Stan, C.V., and Dobson, D.P. (2019) An Experimental Investigation of the Relative Strength of the Silica Polymorphs Quartz, Coesite, and Stishovite. G3: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 20, 1975-1989. DOI 10.1029/2018GC007842
25. Bejina, F., Bystricky, M., Terce, N., Whitaker, M.L., Chen, H. (2019) Bulk Modulus of Fe-Rich Olivines Corrected for Non-Hydrostaticity. Comptes Rendus Geoscience, 351, 86-94. DOI 10.1016/j.crte.2018.06.002
24. Li, L., Weidner, D.J., Whitaker, M.L., Triplett, R.S. (2018) Ultrasonic Acoustic Wave Velocities of Neighborite (NaMgF3) Across Orthorhombic to Cubic Phase Boundary at High P-T. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 283, 38-42. DOI 10.1016/j.pepi.2018.08.002
23. Rucks, M.J., Whitaker, M.L., Glotch, T.D., Parise, T.D., Jaret, S.J., Catalano, T., Dyar, M.D. (2018) Making Tissintite: Mimicking Meteorites in the Multi-Anvil. American Mineralogist, 103(9), 1516-1519. DOI 10.2138/am-2018-6539
22. Li, L., Whitaker, M.L., Weidner, D.J. (2018) Elastic Wave Velocity Measurement Using Ultrasonic System with Two Reflectors. Review of Scientific Instruments, 89(8), 086105. (Editor’s Pick) DOI 10.1063/1.5041802
21. Cheung, C.S.N., Weidner, D.J., Li, L., Meredith, P.G., Chen, H., Whitaker, M.L., and Chen, X. (2018) Stress Distribution During Cold Compression of Rocks and Mineral Aggregates Using X-ray Diffraction at Beamline 6-BM-B of the Advanced Photon Source. Journal of Visualized Experiments. (135), e57555, DOI 10.3791/57555
20. Weidner, D.J., Li, L., Whitaker, M.L., and Triplett, R.S. (2018) Ultrasonic Acoustic Velocities During Partial Melting of the Mantle Peridotite, KLB-1. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 123(2) 1252-1261. DOI 10.1002/2017JB014753
19. Cheung, C.S.N., Weidner, D.J., Li, L., Meredith, P.G., Chen, H., Whitaker, M.L., and Chen, X. (2017) Stress Distribution During Cold Compression of a Quartz Aggregate Using Synchrotron X-Ray Diffraction: Observed Yielding, Damage and Grain Crushing. Journal of Geophysical Research: Sold Earth, 122(4) 2724-2735. DOI 10.1002/2016JB013653
18. Whitaker, M.L., Baldwin, K.J., and Huebsch, W.R. (2017) DIASCoPE: Directly Integrated Acoustic System Combined with Pressure Experiments – A new method for fast acoustic velocity measurements at high pressure. Review of Scientific Instruments, 88, 034901. DOI 10.1063/1.4977596
17. Dobson, D.P., Hunt, S.A., Ahmed, J., Lord, O.T., Wann, E., Santangeli, J., Wood, I.G., Vocadlo, L., Walker, A., Mueller, H.J., Lathe, C., Whitaker, M.L., Morard, G., and Mezouar, M. (2016) The Phase Diagram of NiSi Under the Conditions of Small Planetary Interiors. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 261, 196-206. DOI 10.1016/j.pepi.2016.10.005
16. Hunt, S.A., Weidner, D.J., McCormack, R.J., Whitaker, M.L., Bailey, E., Li, L., Vaughan, M.T., and Dobson, D.P. (2014) Deformation T-Cup: A new multi-anvil apparatus for controlled strain-rate deformation experiments at pressures above 18 GPa. Review of Scientific Instruments, 85, 085103. DOI 10.1063/1.4891338
15. Fujino, K., Nishio-Hamane, D., Nagai, T., Seto, Y., Kuwayama, Y., Whitaker, M.L., Ohfuji, H., Shinmei, T., and Irifune, T. (2014) Spin Transition, Substitution, and Partitioning of Iron in Lower Mantle Minerals. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 228, 186-191. DOI 10.1016/j.pepi.2013.12.008
14. Matsukage, K.N., Nagayo, Y., Whitaker, M.L., Takahashi, E., and Kawasaki, T. (2013) Melting of the Martian mantle from 1.0 to 4.5 GPa. Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences, 108, 201-214. DOI 10.2465/jmps.120820
13. Fujino, K., Nishio-Hamane, D., Kuwayama, Y., Sata, N., Murakami, S., Whitaker, M.L., Shinozaki, A., Ohfuji, H., Kojima, Y., Irifune, T., Hiraoka, N., Ishii, H., and Ku-Ding, T. (2013) Spin transition and substitution of Fe3+ in Al-bearing post-Mg-perovskite. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 217, 31-35. DOI 10.1016/j.pepi.2013.01.006
12. Zou, Y., Irifune, T., Greaux, S., Whitaker, M.L., Shinmei, T., Ohfuji, H., Negishi, R., and Higo, Y. (2012) Elasticity and sound velocities of polycrystalline Mg3Al2(SiO4)3 garnet up to 20 GPa and 1700 K. Journal of Applied Physics, 112, 014910, 1-9. DOI 10.1063/1.4736407
11. Zou, Y., Greaux, S., Irifune, T., Whitaker, M.L., Shinmei, T., and Higo, Y. (2012) Thermal Equation of state of Mg3Al2Si3O12 pyrope garnet up to 19 GPa and 1700 K. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 39(7) 589-598. DOI 10.1007/s00269-012-0514-z
10. Liu, W., Whitaker, M.L., Liu, Q., Wang, L., Nishiyama, N., Wang, Y., Kubo, A., Duffy, T.S., and Li, B. (2011) Thermal Equation of State of CaIrO3 Post-Perovskite. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 38(5) 407-417. DOI 10.1007/s00269-010-0414-z
9. Whitaker, M.L., Liu, W., Wang, L., and Li, B. (2010) Acoustic Velocities and Elastic Properties of Pyrite (FeS2) to 9.6 GPa. Journal of Earth Science, 21(5) 792-800. DOI 10.1007/s12583-010-0115-z
8. Liu, Q., Liu W., Whitaker M.L., Wang L., and Li B. (2010), In situ ultrasonic velocity measurements across the fayalite-spinel transformation in Fe2SiO4. American Mineralogist, 95(7) 1000-1005. DOI 10.2138/am.2010.3369
7. Liu, W., Liu, Q., Whitaker, M.L., Zhao, Y., and Li, B. (2009) Experimental and theoretical studies on the elasticity of molybdenum to 12 GPa. Journal of Applied Physics, 106(4) 043506. DOI 10.1063/1.3197135
6. Whitaker, M.L., Liu, W., Liu, Q., Wang, L., and Li, B. (2009) Thermoelasticity of -FeSi to 8 GPa and 1273 K. American Mineralogist, 94(7) 1039-1044. DOI 10.2138/am.2009.3166
5. Liu, Q., Liu, W., Whitaker, M.L., Wang, L., and Li, B. (2008) Compressional and shear wave velocities of Fe2SiO4 spinel at high pressure and high temperature. High Pressure Research, 28(3), 405-413. DOI 10.1080/08957950802296287
4. Whitaker, M.L., Liu, W., Liu, Q., Wang, L., and Li, B. (2008) Combined in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction and ultrasonic interferometry study of -FeSi at high pressure. High Pressure Research, 28(3), 385-395. DOI 10.1080/08957950802246480
3. Whitaker, M.L., Nekvasil, H., Lindsley, D.H., and McCurry, M. (2008) Can crystallization of olivine tholeiite give rise to potassic rhyolites? An experimental investigation. Bulletin of Volcanology, 70(3), 417-434. DOI 10.1007/s00445-007-0146-1
2. Whitaker, M.L., Lindsley, D.H., Kubicek-Whitaker, J.M. and Nekvasil, H. (2007) Carbon is not required during crystallization to produce ferrobasalts/ferrodiorites (FTP rocks). American Mineralogist, 92(10), 1750-1755. DOI 10.2138/am.2007.2643
1. Whitaker, M.L., Nekvasil, H., Lindsley, D.H., and DiFrancesco, N.J. (2007) The role of pressure in producing compositional diversity in intraplate basaltic magmas. Journal of Petrology, 48(2), 365-393. DOI 10.1093/petrology/egl063