Kinetics and detectability of the bridgmanite to post-perovskite transformation in the Earth's D″ layer

Abstract

The D$${}^{{\prime\prime} }$$ ″ layer in the Earth’s lower mantle involves a seismic discontinuity which is often assigned to a mineral phase transition to post-perovskite, however, as this phase transition occurs over broad region the assignment of seismic boundaries remains unclear. Here, the authors find that due to the kinetics of the bridgmanite to post-perovskite transformation, thick transition layers can be detected by seismic reflections, unlike previously thought.