CURRICULUM VITAE

CURRICULUM VITAE
Robert Terrance Downs

Contact Information
Education
Professional Experience
Teaching Experience
Graduate Student Supervision
Honors and Awards
Professional Memberships
Abstracts from Meetings
Invited Talks
Journal Publications
Books
Funding
Press Release

Contact Information:

Department of Geosciences
Gould-Simpson Building
University of Arizona
Tucson Arizona 85721-0077
Voice: 520-626-8092
Fax: 520-621-2672
Downs@geo.arizona.edu

Education:

University of British Columbia 1986 B.S. Mathematics
Virginia Tech 1989 M.S. Geological Sciences
Virginia Tech 1992 Ph.D. Geological Sciences

Carnegie Institution of Washington, Geophysical Laboratory, 1993-1996 Post-doc

Professional Experience:

Assistant to curator Joe Nagel: M.Y. Williams Collection at University of British Columbia, 1985
Assistant to curator Gary Ansell: National Mineral Collections of Canada, 1986
Assistant to curator Susan Eriksson: Virginia Tech Museum of Geological Sciences, 1990
Coach of Virginia Tech Women's Field Hockey Team, 1987-1990, win-loss record: 36-18.
Pre-doctoral Fellowship: Carnegie Institution of Washington, Geophysical Laboratory, 1991
Chair: American Geophysical Union Spring Meeting, Mineral Physics session, April 1990
Chair: American Geophysical Union Spring Meeting, Crystal Chemistry of Minerals session, May 1992
Post-doctoral Fellowship: Carnegie Institution of Washington, Geophysical Laboratory, February 1993 - July 1996
Chair: American Geophysical Union Spring Meeting, Advances in Mineralogy session, May 1994
Technical Editor (Structures): The Canadian Mineralogist, 1994 - present
Technical Editor, Crystal Structures: American Mineralogist, 1994 - present
Crystal Structure Technical Editor: European Journal of Mineralogy, 2003 - present
Reviewer of Abstracts: Geological Society of America’s 1994 Annual Meeting in Seattle for the Mineralogy/Crystallography category
Mentor to two high school students, Aaron Andalman and Marc Hudacsko, who won the First Place Grand Award at the 1995 International Science and Engineering Fair, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada for their project titled "Determination of Bonding and Electron Density in Crystals".
Chair: American Geophysical Union Spring Meeting, Crystal Chemistry, Phase Equilibria, and Thermodynamics session, May 1995
Mineralogy Society of America Delegate to the American Geophysical Union Spring Meeting, 1995-1996
Member of the Committee on Rights, Privileges, and Responsibilities of Scientific Staff at the Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1996
Assistant Professor of Mineralogy and Crystallography: University of Arizona, Department of Geosciences, August 1996 - 2002
Associate Professor of Mineralogy and Crystallography: University of Arizona, Department of Geosciences, 2002 - present
Mineralogical Society of America Representative to the American Geophysical Union Mineral Physics Committee. November 1996 - present
Mineralogical Society of America Meetings Program Committee. 1997 - 1999.
Mineralogical Society of America Outreach Committee. 1998 - 1999
Mineralogical Society of America Outreach Committee Chairman. 1999 - present
University of Arizona Departmental Committees include: Chairman's Advisory , Colloquium , Performance Evaluation , Undergraduate Advisory/Policy , Graduate Policy , Lowell Chair Search
University of Arizona, Faculty of Science Grades Appeal Committee 1998 - present
University of Arizona, University Parking Hearing Board 1999 - present
Flandrau Science Center's Science and Technology Working Group. May 2002 - April 2005.
Visiting Professor, Center for the Study of Matter at Extreme Conditions, Florida International University, Miami. January 2003 - June 2003
Visiting Professor, Department of Geosciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg Virginia, July 2003 - September 2003
Visiting Professor, Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Japan. October 2003 - December 2003
Chair with P. Dera: SMEC (Study of Matter at Extreme Conditions) Conference, Miami, Florida, March 2003, Session: Latest trends and future perspectives in high-pressure crystallography.

Teaching Experience:

Graduate teaching assistant: Mineralogy, Virginia Tech, Geological Sciences 3505, Fall 1987, 1988
Instructor: Minerals Laboratory, Virginia Tech, Geological Sciences 2520, Winter 1988
Graduate teaching assistant: X-ray Determination of Atomic Arrangements, Virginia Tech Materials Sciences and Engineering 3044, Fall 1991; 3054, Spring 1992
Professor of Geological Sciences at the University of Arizona:

Professor for General Education classes at the University of Arizona: Natural Sciences 101, Spring 1999-2002.
Visiting Professor, Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Japan. Topics in Crystallography, Fall 2003

Graduate Student Supervision:

Peter Liermann 1996-2001 Committee member, PhD
Ryan Mathur 1996-2001 Committee member, PhD
Marilena Stimpfl 1997-present Committee member, PhD
Richard Thompson 1998-present Advisor, MS, PhD
Kausik Sinnaswamy 1999-2001 Research Advisor, MS
Marcus Origlieri 2000-present Advisor, MS, PhD
Carolyn Pommier 2000-2003 Committee member, PhD Chemistry
Casey Hagbo 2001-present Committee member, MS
Andrew McCarthy 2001-present Committee member, MS
Abigail Wasserman 2001-present Committee member, PhD Lunar and Planetary Sciences
Archana Krishnamurthy 2001-present Research Advisor, MS
Ranjini Swaminathan 2001-present Research Advisor, MS
Hareesh Rajan 2001-present Research Advisor, MS
Hinako Uchida 2002-present Advisor, MS
Kim Tait 2003-present Advisor, PhD

Honors and Awards:

American Federation of Mineralogical Societies Scholarship, 1990-1992
International Union of Crystallography Young Scientist Award, 1992
Leonard G. Berry Medal for significant contributions to the Mineralogical Association of Canada, 2002
Elected a Fellow of the Mineralogical Society of America, 2002

Professional Memberships:

Mineralogical Association of Canada, 1986 - present
Mineralogical Society of America, 1988 - present
American Geophysical Union, 1997 – present
Elected member of the International Centre for Diffraction Data, 1999 - present
Deutsche Mineralogische Gesellschaft: 2002 – present

Abstracts from Meetings:

Downs, R.T., Boisen, M.B., Jr. and Gibbs, G.V. (1989) Mean-square displacements along TO bonds in framework aluminosilicates. EOS Transactions, AGU, Spring Meeting Supplement, 70 (15) 352
Downs, R.T., Gibbs, G.V. and Boisen, M.B., Jr. (1990) A study of the mean-square displacement amplitudes of Si, Al and O atoms in framework structures: Evidence for rigid bonds, order, twinning and stacking faults. EOS Transactions, AGU, Spring Meeting Supplement, 71 (17) 526
Downs, R.T., Gibbs, G.V., Bartelmehs, K.L. and Boisen, M.B., Jr. (1991) The variation of the SiO bond length with temperature. EOS Transactions, AGU, Spring Meeting Supplement,72 (17) 144
Palmer, D.C. and Downs, R.T. (1991) High pressure behavior of cristobalite revealed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. EOS Transactions, AGU, Fall Meeting Supplement, 72 (4) 478
Palmer, D.C., Downs, R.T. and Hemley, R.J. (1991) High-pressure phase transitions in cristobalite. Condensed Matter and Materials Physics Birmingham
Downs, R.T. and Gibbs, G.V. (1992) Aspects of the high temperature behavior of quartz. EOS Transactions, AGU, Spring Meeting Supplement, 73 (14) 142
Palmer, D.C., Finger, L.W., Hemley, R.J. and Downs, R.T. (1992) The high pressure tetragonal-triclinic phase transition in cristobalite. EOS Transactions, AGU, Spring Meeting Supplement, 73 (14) 301
Bartelmehs, K.L., Gibbs, G.V., Boisen, M.B., Jr. and Downs, R.T. (1993) Interactive computer software used in teaching and research in mineralogy at Virginia Tech. Geological Society of America Fall Meeting, Boston, A-347
Downs, R.T. (1993) The significance of thermal ellipsoids in the feldspar structures. NATO Advanced Study Institute ``Feldspars and Their Reactions'', Edinburgh, Scotland
Gibbs, G.V., Boisen, M.B., Jr. and Downs, R.T. (1993) Is the space group symmetry adopted by coesite, quartz and cristobalite governed by short ranged forces? EOS Transactions, AGU, Spring Meeting Supplement, 74 (16) 163
Downs, R.T., Hazen, R.M. and Finger, L.W. (1994) The high-pressure crystal chemistry of low albite. EOS Transactions, AGU, Spring Meeting Supplement, 75 (16) 188
Downs, R.T. and Ribbe, P.H. (1994) The structure of low albite at high pressures and temperatures: comparison with alkali-substituted feldspars. International Mineralogical Association, 16^th General Meeting, Pisa Italy, Session OS-1
Hazen, R.M., Downs, R.T., Finger, L.W., Conrad, P.G. and Gasparik, T. (1994) Crystal chemistry and high-pressure behavior of majorite-type garnets. EOS Transactions, AGU, Spring Meeting Supplement, 75 (16) 192
Downs, R.T., Finger, L.W. and Hazen, R.M. (1994) Rigid body refinement of the structure of quartz as a function of temperature. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, 26 A-111
Hazen, R.M., Downs, R.T., Finger, L.W., Gasparik, T. and Fursenko, B. (1994) Crystal chemistry of three new high-pressure silicates with octahedrally-coordinated silicon. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, 26 A-166
Zha, C.S., Duffy, T.S., Downs, R.T., Mao, H.K. and Hemley, R.J. (1994) Single-crystal elasticity of forsterite to 16 GPa. EOS Transactions, AGU, Fall Meeting Supplement, 75 (44) 633
Downs, R.T., Hazen, R.M. and Finger, L.W. (1995) Olivine compression mechanisms. EOS Transactions, AGU, Spring Meeting Supplement, 76 (17) 154
Andalman, A., Hudasko, M. and Downs, R.T. (1995) An electron density study of the bonding of Na and Oco in low albite. EOS Transactions, AGU, Spring Meeting Supplement, 76 (17) 154
Duffy, T.S., Zha, C.S., Downs, R.T., Mao, H.K. and Hemley, R.J. (1995) Constraints on upper mantle composition from new measurements of the elasticity of forsterite to transition zone pressures. EOS Transactions, AGU, Spring Meeting Supplement, 76 (17) 41
Hazen, R.M., Finger, L.W., and Downs R.T. (1995) High-pressure alkali and alkaline earth framework silicates with 4- and 6-coordinated silicon. EOS Transactions, AGU, Fall Meeting Supplement, 76 (46) F531
Zha, C.S., Mao, H.K., Hemley, R.J., Downs, R.T., and Duffy, T.S. (1995) Sound velocity and elasticity of b -Mg₂SiO₄under high pressure by Brillouin scattering. EOS Transactions, AGU, Fall Meeting Supplement, 76 (46) F631
Downs, R.T., and Bartelmehs, K.L. (1996) Computer visualization of temperature and pressure effects on crystal structures. EOS Transactions, AGU, Spring Meeting Supplement, 77 (17) S261
Yang, H., Hazen, R.M., Downs, R.T., and Finger, L.W. (1996) Structural change associated with the incommensurate-normal phase transition in Akermanite, Ca₂MgSi₂O₇, at high pressure. EOS Transactions, AGU, Spring Meeting Supplement, 77 (17) S144
Downs, R.T. and Finger, L.W. (1996) Modeling the thermal motion of freely rotating molecules. International Union of Crystallography XVII Congress and General Assembly, Seattle Washington, C-443.
Hazen, R.M. and Downs, R.T. (1996) Systematic crystal chemistry of high-pressure silicates: An interactive graphics demonstration. International Union of Crystallography XVII Congress and General Assembly, Seattle Washington, C-543.
Yang, H., Finger, L.W., Hazen, R.M., Downs, R.T., and Prewitt, C.T. (1996) Compressibilities and high-pressure crystal structures of kyanite and sillimanite. EOS Transactions, AGU, Fall Meeting Supplement, 77 (46) F683
Zha, C.S., Mao, H.K., Downs, R.T., and Hemley, R.J. (1996) Single-crystal elasticity of San Carlos olivine to 32.4 GPa. EOS Transactions, AGU, Fall Meeting Supplement, 77 (46) F682
Inbar, I., Downs, R.T., Somayazulu, M., Teter, D., Hazen, R.M. (1996) High-pressure behavior of CO₂. Abstracts of the March 1996 Meeting of the American Physical Society, O27.07
Mazin, I.I, Fei, Y., Cohen, R.E., and Downs, R.T. (1997) New kind of polytypism: Hexagonal FeO. The American Physical Society March Meeting.
Downs, R.T., Yang, H., Hazen, R.M., and Finger, L.W. (1997) The high-pressure crystal chemistry of the alkali feldspars: New data from reedmergnerite, NaBSi₃O₈. EOS Transactions, AGU, Spring Meeting Supplement, 78 (17) S314
Cohen, R.E., Fei, Y., Mazin, I.I., Downs, R.T., and Isaak, D.G. (1997) Phase transitions in transition metal oxides and unusual polytypism in high pressure FeO. EOS Transactions, AGU, Fall Meeting Supplement, 78 (46) F743
Downs, R.T., Teter, D.M., and Gibbs, G.V. (1997) A Pro-crystal electron density analysis of potassium-oxygen bonding in microcline and KTP as a function of pressure. EOS Transactions, AGU, Fall Meeting Supplement, 78 (46) F754
Downs, R.T. (1998) Computer graphics simulation of compression mechanisms in crystals. IUCR-HP98, Argonne, Abstracts, 21
Thompson, R.M., and Downs, R.T. (1999) Quantitative analysis of the closest-packing of anions in mineral structures as a function of pressure, temperature, and compositions. EOS Transactions, AGU, Fall Meeting Supplement, 80 (46) F1107.
Downs, R.T., Gibbs, G.V., and Boisen M.B., Jr. (1999) Topological analysis of the P21/c to C2/c transition in pyroxenes as a function of temperature and pressure. EOS Transactions, AGU, Fall Meeting Supplement, 80 (46) F1140.
Righter, K., and Downs, R.T. (2000) Magnesioferrite spinel as the host phase for iridium and other highly siderophile elements at the cretaceous-tertiary boundary. Meteoritical Society Meeting. Meteoritics & Planetary Science 35: A136-A137, Supplement S Sep 2000
Downs, R.T., Gibbs, G.V., Giovanni, M.K., Boisen, M.B.Jr., and Rosso, K.M. (2001) A comparison of procrystal and first-principles crystal electron density distributions with application to understanding the phase changes in pyroxenes. In Eleventh Annual V.M. Goldschmidt Conference, Abstract#3902, LPI Contribution No. 1088, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston (CD-ROM). May 20-24, Hot Springs, VA.
Thompson, R.M., Downs, R.T., and Lienert, C. (2001) Ideal Pyroxene Topologies. In Eleventh Annual V.M. Goldschmidt Conference, Abstract#3149, LPI Contribution No. 1088, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston (CD-ROM). May 20-24, Hot Springs, VA.
Thompson, R.M., Downs, R.T., and Teter, D.M. (2001) Packing systematics of stishovite. EOS Transactions, AGU, Fall Meeting Supplement, 82 (47) F1156. (html file)
Origlieri, M.J., Downs, R.T., and Harlow, G.E. (2001) Compression mechanism of the pyroxene kosmochlor. EOS Transactions, AGU, Fall Meeting Supplement, 82 (47) F1393.
Pommier, C.J.S., Denton, M.B., and Downs, R.T. (2002) Polarized Raman spectroscopic study of the pressure-induced phase change from C2/c to P21/c in spodumene. Pittcon 1747P, New Orleans, LA, March 17-22, 2002. (pdf file)
Lager, G.A., Marshall, W.G., and Downs, R.T. (2002) Keynote address: Re-examination of the hydrogarnet structure at high pressure using neutron powder methods: Comparison with single-crystal X-ray and theoretical results. 18th General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association, 1-6 Sept, 2002, Edinburgh, Scotland. Programme With Abstracts, page 82.
Origlieri, M.J., Thompson, R.M., Downs, R.T., and Gibbs, G.V. (2002) The relationship between compression anisotropy observed in the pyroxenes and oxide anion non-bonded repulsions. 18th General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association, 1-6 Sept, 2002, Edinburgh, Scotland. Programme With Abstracts, page 71.
Downs, R.T., and Hall-Wallace, M. (2002) A Database of Crystal Structures Published in the American Mineralogist and The Canadian Mineralogist and It’s Use as a Resource in the Classroom. 18th General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association, 1-6 Sept, 2002, Edinburgh, Scotland. Programme With Abstracts, page 128.
Thompson, R.M., and Downs, R.T. (2002) Model Pyroxenes and Transition Pathways. 18th General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association, 1-6 Sept, 2002, Edinburgh, Scotland. Programme With Abstracts, page 85.
Ross, N.L., and Downs, R.T. (2003) High-pressure crystal chemistry: “Stuffed” framework structures at high-pressure. International School of Crystallography, High Pressure Crystallography, 4-15 June. Erice, Italy
Pommier, C.J.S., Denton, M.B., and Downs, R.T. (2003) Raman spectroscopic study of spodumene through the pressure-induced phase change from C2/c to P21/c. Pittcon 1730-3, Orlando, FL, March 9-14, 2003.
Uchida, H., and Downs, R.T. (2003) Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies on spinels from the San Carlos Volcanic Field, Arizona In Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 67, A497 Supplement, Goldschmidt Conference, Sept 7-12, Kurashiki Japan. (pdf file)
Hazen, R.M. and Downs, R.T. (2003) Chiral mineral surfaces and their chiral index. The Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Seattle Washington. November 2-5, 2003. (pdf abstract)
Gibbs, G.V., Whitten, A., Spackman, M., Simpfl, M., Carducci, M., and Downs, R.T. (2003) The silica polymorph coesite: An exploration of the electron density. The Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Seattle Washington. November 2-5, 2003. (pdf abstract)
McIntosh, B., Denton, M.B., Downs, R.T., Becker, D. (2003) Smart Raman instrument for Mars Science Laboratory. Mars Exploration Program Assessment Group, Sept 10-11, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA. (pdf file)
Tait KT, Zhao, Y., and Downs, R.T. (2004) Investigations into the stability, morphology, and crystal structure of the coexistence of s-I and s-II methane-ethane and methane-propane clathrate hydrates: occurrence and geological implications. Lab Directed Research Dollars Review at LANSCE, Los Alamos, New Mexico. March 17, 2004.
McIntosh, B. Denton, M.B., and Downs, R.T. (2004) Process Raman on earth and research Raman on Mars - How are they related? Pittcon.
Liermann H. P., Downs R. T., Yang H. (2004) Raman spectroscopy of order/disorder in pseudobrookite (MgTi2O5): Implication for the determination of the thermal history of planetary materials by remote sensing. 32nd IGC - Florence 2004.
Hazen, R.M., Asthagiri, A., Teng, H., and Downs, R.T. (2004) Geochemical pathways to the origin of biochemical homochirality. Division of Geochemistry, American Chemical Society National Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, Aug 22-26. (html file)
Downs, R.T., Liermann, H.P., and Yang, H. (2004) The analysis of Mg and Ti order/disorder in pseudobrookite by Raman spectroscopy: Implications for the geological exploration of Mars. Geological Association of Canada - Mineralogical Association of Canada Annual Meeting, St. Catherines 2004. SS01-06.

Invited Talks:

Michigan Technological University, Department of Geological Engineering and Sciences colloquium, 24 September 1995, "Compression Mechanisms in Minerals"
University of Arizona Geosciences colloquium, 12 October 1995, "Compression Mechanisms in Minerals"
International Union of Crystallography XVII Congress and General Assembly, Seattle Washington, 11 August 1996, "Systematic Crystal Chemistry of High-Pressure Silicates: An Interactive Graphics Demonstration"
International Union of Crystallography XVII Congress and General Assembly, Seattle Washington, 16 August 1996, "Modeling the thermal motion of freely rotating molecules"
University of Arizona Geosciences colloquium, 17 April 1997, "Phase Transitions, Mechanisms and Implications"
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, October 10, 1997. "Mineral Phase Transitions, Mechanisms and Geologic Implications"
Department of Geology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, January 28, 1998. "Mineral Phase Transitions, Mechanisms and Geologic Implications"
Friends of Mineralogy Annual Meeting, Seattle/Tacoma, Washington, September 26, 1998. "Mr. Angstrom’s View of the Universe"
Tucson Gem and Mineral Society, Tucson, Arizona, November 2, 1998. "Mr. Angstrom’s View of the Universe: Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates"
Mineralogical Society of America Short Course, Ultrahigh-Pressure Mineralogy: Physics and Chemistry of the Earth’s Deep Interior, Davis California, December 5, 1998. "High-Pressure Crystal Chemistry"
Mineralogy at the Millenium, sponsored by The Carnegie Institution of Washington, The National Science Foundation, and The Mineralogical Society of America, April 11-13, 1999, Washington, D.C. "Visualizing Mineral Behavior".
Caltech Geology Club, Nov 17, 1999. "Atomic Scale Response of Minerals to Pressure".
Conference for The Study of Matter at Extreme Conditions, Miami Florida, March 30, 2001. "Change in a crystal structure at simultaneous P and T, using titanite".
American Crystallographic Association Annual Meeting, “The analysis of bonding changes in pyroxenes at pressure and temperature using procrystal electron densities.” July 21-26, 2001, Los Angeles, California.
Geological Sciences at New Mexico State University, November 14, 2001, Las Cruces, New Mexico. " Minerals at pressure: atomic scale compression".
Los Alamos National Laboratory, July 25, 2002, Los Alamos, New Mexico. " Minerals at pressure: atomic scale compression mechanisms".
SMEC (Study of Matter at Extreme Conditions) Conference, Miami, Florida, March 2003, "Single-crystal studies under deviatoric conditions".
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, June 2003, "My colleagues call me a high-pressure mineral physicist..."
Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan, October 29, 2003. "The Effect of Pressure on Minerals Part 1. Hydrostatic Pressure".
Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan, December 3, 2003. "The Effect of Pressure on Minerals Part 2. Non-hydrostatic Pressure".
Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan, November 28, 2003. "The Effect of Pressure on Minerals".
GAC-MAC Annual Meeting, St. Catherines May 2004. "The analysis of Mg and Ti order/disorder in pseudobrookite by Raman spectroscopy: Implications for the geological exploration of Mars."

Journal Publications:

Gibbs, G.V., Boisen, M.B., Jr., Downs, R.T. and Lasaga, A.C. (1988) Mathematical Modeling of the structures and bulk moduli of TX₂ quartz and cristobalite structure types, T = C, Si, Ge and X = O, S. Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, 121, 155-165.
Boisen, M.B., Jr., Gibbs, G.V., Downs, R.T. and D'Arco, P. (1990) The dependence of the SiO bond length on structural parameters in coesite, the silica polymorphs and the clathrasils. American Mineralogist, 75, 748-754.
Downs, R.T., Gibbs, G.V. and Boisen, M.B., Jr. (1990) A study of the mean-square displacement amplitudes of Si, Al and O atoms in framework structures: Evidence for rigid bonds, order, twinning and stacking faults. American Mineralogist, 75, 1253-1267.
Gunter, M.E. and Downs, R.T. (1991) Drill: A computer program to aid in building ball and spoke crystal models. American Mineralogist, 76, 293-294.
Bartelmehs, K.L., Bloss, F.D., Downs, R.T. and Birch, J.B. (1992) Excalibr II. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 199, 185-196.
Downs, R.T., Gibbs, G.V., Bartelmehs, K.L. and Boisen, M.B., Jr. (1992) Variations of bond lengths and volumes of silicate tetrahedra with temperature. American Mineralogist, 77, 751-757.
Palmer, D.C., Finger, L.W., Hemley, R.J. and Downs, R.T. (1992) The high pressure behavior of cristobalite. International Union of Crystallography, High-Pressure Group Meeting, May 30-31.
Sterner, S.M., Chou, I-M., Downs, R.T. and Pitzer, K.S. (1992) Phase relations in the system NaCl-KCl-H₂0: V. Thermodynamic-PTX analysis of solid-liquid equilibria at high temperatures and pressures. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 56, 2295-2309.
Downs, R.T., Bartelmehs, K.L., Gibbs, G.V. and Boisen, M.B., Jr. (1993) Interactive software for calculating and displaying X-ray or neutron powder diffractometer patterns of crystalline materials. American Mineralogist, 78, 1104-1107.
Hazen, R.M., Downs, R.T., Finger, L.W. and Ko, J. (1993) Crystal chemistry of ferromagnesian silicate spinels: Evidence of Mg-Si disorder. American Mineralogist, 78, 1320-1323.
Downs, R.T., Hazen, R.M. and Finger, L.W. (1994) The high-pressure crystal chemistry of low albite and the origin of the pressure dependency of Al/Si order-disorder. American Mineralogist, 79, 1042-1052.
Downs, R.T. and Palmer, D.C. (1994) The pressure behavior of a cristobalite. American Mineralogist, 79, 9-14.
Finger, L.W., Hazen, R:M., Downs, R.T., Meng, R.L. and Chu, C.W. (1994) Crystal chemistry of HgBa₂CaCu₂O_6+dand HgBa₂Ca₂Cu₃O_8+d: Single-crystal X-ray diffraction results. Physica C, 226, 216-221. (pdf file)
Hazen, R.M., Downs, R.T., Conrad, P.G. Finger, L.W., and Gasparik, T. (1994) Comparative compressibilities of majorite-type garnets. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 21, 344-349.
Hazen, R.M., Downs, R.T., Finger, L.W., Conrad, P.G. and Gasparik, T. (1994) Crystal chemistry of Ca-bearing majorite. American Mineralogist, 79, 581-584.
Nicoll, J.S., Gibbs, G.V., Boisen, M.B., Jr., Downs, R.T. and Bartelmehs, K.L. (1994) Bond length and radii variations in fluoride and oxide molecules and crystals. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 20,617-624.
Bartelmehs, K.L., Downs, R.T., Gibbs, G.V., Boisen, M.B., Jr., Birch, J.B. (1995) Tetrahedral rigid-body motion in silicates. American Mineralogist, 80, 680-690.
Downs, R.T., Hazen, R:M., Finger, L.W. and Gasparik, T. (1995) Crystal chemistry of lead aluminosilicate hollandite: A new high-pressure synthetic phase with octahedral silicon. American Mineralogist, 80, 937-940.
Duffy, T.S., Zha, C-S., Downs, R.T., Mao, H-K., and Hemley, R.J. (1995) Elasticity of forsterite to 16 GPa and the composition of the upper mantle. Nature, 378, 170-173. (pdf file)
Downs, R.T., Zha, C.-S., Duffy, T.S. and Finger, L.W. (1996) The equation of state of forsterite to 17.2 GPa and effects of pressure media. American Mineralogist, 81, 51-55.
Hazeralogist, 81, 327-334.
Hazen, R.M., Downs, R.T., and Finger, L.W. (1996) High-pressure framework silicates. Science, 272, 1769-1771.
Zha, C-S., Duffy, T.S., Downs, R.T., Mao, H-K., and Hemley, R.J. (1996) Sound velocity and elasticity of single-crystal forsterite to 16 GPa. Journal of Geophysical Research, 101, 17535-17545. (pdf file)
Struzhkin, V.V., Timofeev, Y.A., Downs, R.T., Hemley, R.J., and Mao, H.K. (1996) Tc(P) from magnetic susceptibility measurements in high temperature superconductors: YBa₂Cu₃O_7-x and HgBa₂Ca₂Cu₃0_8+x. High Pressure Science and Technology, Proceedings of the Joint XV International Association for the Advancement of High Pressure Science and Technology & XXXIII European High Pressure Research Group, Poland, September 11-15, 1995, Editor: W.A. Trzeciakowski, 1996, World Scientific Publishing Co., Singapore, 682-685.
Downs, R.T., Andalman, A., and Hudasko, M. (1996) The coordination numbers of Na and K atoms in low albite and microcline as determined from a procrystal electron-density distribution. American Mineralogist, 81, 1344-1349. (pdf file)
Yang, H., Downs, R.T., Finger, L.W., Hazen, R.M., and Prewitt, C.T. (1997) Compressibility and crystal structure of kyanite, Al₂SiO₅, at high pressure. American Mineralogist, 82, 467-474. ( pdf abstract)
Zha, C-S., Duffy, T.S., Mao, H.K., Downs, R.T., Hemley, R.J., and Weidner, D.J. (1997) Single-crystal elasticity of b -Mg₂SiO₄ to the pressure of the 410 km seismic discontinuity in the Earth's ,mantle. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 147, E9-E15. (pdf file)
Yang, H., Hazen, R.M., Downs, R.T., and Finger, L.W., (1997) Structural change associated with the incommensurate-normal phase transition in akermanite, Ca₂MgSi₂O₇, at high pressure. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 24, 510-519. (pdf file)
Badro, J., Teter, D.M., Downs, R.T., Gillet, P., Hemley, R.J., and Barrat, J-L. (1997) Theoretical study of a five-coordinated silica polymorph. Physical Review B, 56, 5797-5806. (pdf file)
Zha, C-S., Duffy, T.S., Downs, R.T., Mao, H.K., Hemley, R.J., and Weidner, D.J. (1998) Single-crystal elasticity of the a and b polymorphs of Mg₂SiO₄ at high pressure. In High-Pressure-Temperature Research: Properties of Earth and Planetary Materials, M. H. Manghnani and T. Yagi, editors. American Geophysical Union, Washington, D.C.
Mazin, I., Fei, Y., Downs, R.T., and Cohen, R. (1998) Possible polytypism in FeO at high pressure. American Mineralogist, 83, 451-457. ( pdf file)
Yang, H., Hazen, R.M., Finger, L.W., Prewitt, C.T., and Downs, R.T., (1998) Compressibility and crystal structure of sillimanite, Al₂SiO₅, at high pressure. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 25, 39-47. ( pdf file)
Downs, R.T., and Somayazulu, M. (1998) Carbon dioxide at 1.0 GPa. Acta Crystallographica C54, 897-898. (pdf file)
Zha, C-S., Duffy, T.S., Downs, R.T., Mao, H.K., and Hemley, R.J. (1998) Brillouin scattering and X-ray diffraction of San Carlos olivine: Direct pressure determination to 32 GPa. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 159, 25-33. (pdf file)
Gibbs, G.V., Hill, F.C., Boisen, M.B., Jr., and Downs, R.T. (1998) Power law relationships between bond length, bond strength and electron density distributions. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 25, 585-590. (pdf file)
Gibbs, G.V., Boisen, M.B., Jr., Hill, F.C., Tamada, O., and Downs, R.T. (1998) SiO and GeO bonded interactions as inferred from the bond critical point properties of electron density distributions. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 25,574-584. (pdf file)
Jacobsen, S.D., Smyth, J.R., Swope, R.J., and Downs, R.T. (1998) Rigid-body character of the SO₄ groups in celestite, anglesite, and barite. Canadian Mineralogist, 36, 1045-1055. (pdf abstract)
Cohen, R. E., Fei, Y., Downs, R.T., Mazin, I.I., and Isaak, D.G. (1998) Magnetic collapse and the behavior of transition metal oxides: FeO at high pressures, in High-Pressure Materials Research, R. M. Wentzcovitch et al., eds., pp. 27-37, Symposium Proceedings Vol. 499, Materials Research Society, Warrendale, Pennsylvania.
Prewitt, C.T. and Downs, R.T. (1998) High-Pressure Crystal Chemistry. Reviews in Mineralogy, 37, Ultrahigh-Pressure Mineralogy: Physics and Chemistry of the Earth’s Deep Interior, Russell J. Hemley, Editor. Mineralogical Society of America, Washington DC.
Gibbs, G.V., Hill, F.C., Boisen, M.B., Jr., and Downs, R.T. (1999) Molecules as a basis for modeling the force field of silica. In Structure and Imperfections in Amorphous and Crystalline SiO₂. Rod Devine, editor, John Wiley and Sons, Chapter 6, 151-163.
Downs, R.T., Yang, H., Hazen, R.M., Finger, L.W., and Prewitt, C.T. (1999) Compressibility mechanisms of alkali feldspars: New data from reedmergnerite. American Mineralogist, 84, 333-340. (pdf file)
Sprague, A.L., Roush, T.L., Downs, R.T., Righter, K. (2000) Response to comment on "Comparison of laboratory emission spectra with Mercury telescopic data" by Melissa Lane. Icarus 143, 409-411. (pdf file)
Holl, C.M., Smyth, J.R., Laustsen, H.M.S., Jacobsen, S.D., and Downs, R.T. (2000) Compression of witherite to 8 GPa and the crystal structure of BaCO₃ II. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 27, 467-473. (pdf file)
Angel, R.J., Downs, R.T., and Finger, L.W. (2000) High-temperature – high-pressure diffractometry. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 41, High-Temperature and High-Pressure Crystal Chemistry, Robert M. Hazen and Robert T. Downs, Editors. Mineralogical Society of America, Washington DC.
Downs, R.T. (2000) Analysis of harmonic displacement factors. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 41, High-Temperature and High-Pressure Crystal Chemistry, Robert M. Hazen and Robert T. Downs, Editors. Mineralogical Society of America, Washington DC. (pdf file)
Downs, R.T., and Heese, P.J. (2000) Animation of crystal structure variations with pressure, temperature and composition. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 41, High-Temperature and High-Pressure Crystal Chemistry, Robert M. Hazen and Robert T. Downs, Editors. Mineralogical Society of America, Washington DC.
Hazen, R.M., Downs, R.T., and Prewitt, C.T. (2000) Principles of comparative crystal chemistry. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 41, High-Temperature and High-Pressure Crystal Chemistry, Robert M. Hazen and Robert T. Downs, Editors. Mineralogical Society of America, Washington DC.
Thompson, R.M., and Downs, R.T. (2001) Quantifying distortion from ideal closest-packing in a crystal structure with analysis and application. Acta Crystallographica B57, 119-127. (pdf file)
Righter, K., and Downs, R.T. (2001) The crystal structures of synthetic Re- and PGE-bearing magnesioferrite spinels: Implications for impacts, accretion and the mantle. Geophysical Research Letters, 28, 619-622.
Thompson, R.M., and Downs, R.T. (2001) The systematic generation of all nonequivalent closest-packed stacking sequences of length N using group theory. Acta Crystallographica B57, 766-771. (pdf file)
Lager, G.A., Downs, R.T., Origlieri, M., and Garoutte, R. (2002) High-pressure single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of hydrogarnet: Evidence for a phase transition from Ia3d to I43d symmetry at 5 GPa. American Mineralogist 87, 642-647. (pdf file)
Downs, R.T., Gibbs, G.V., Boisen, M.B.Jr., and Rosso, K.M. (2002) A comparison of procrystal and ab initio representations of the electron-density distributions of minerals. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 29, 369-385. (pdf file)
Downs, R.T. and Hall-Wallace, M. (2003) The American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. American Mineralogist 88, 247-250. (pdf file)
Downs, R.T. (2003) Topology of the pyroxenes as a function of temperature, pressure, and composition as determined from the procrystal electron density. American Mineralogist 88, 556-566. (pdf file)
Thompson, R.M. and Downs, R.T. (2003) Model pyroxenes I: Ideal pyroxene topologies. American Mineralogist 88, 653-666. (pdf file)
Denton, M.B., Sperline, R.P., Giles, J.H., Gilmore, D.A., Pommier, C.J.S., and Downs, R.T. (2003) Advances in the application of array detectors for improved chemical analysis, Part I. Comparison of qualitative analyses using large, computer-based Raman spectral libraries. Australian Journal of Chemistry 56, 117-131. (pdf file)
Downs, R.T. (2003) The Berry Medal for 2002 to Robert T. Downs. The Canadian Mineralogist 41, 243-245. (pdf file)
Gibbs, G.V., Cox, D.F., Boisen, M.B., Jr., Downs, R.T., and Ross, N.L. (2003) The electron localization function: a tool for locating favorable proton docking sites in the silica polymorphs. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 30, 305-316. (pdf file)
Origlieri, M.J., Downs, R.T., Thompson, R.M., Pommier, C.J.S., Denton, M.B., and Harlow, G.E. (2003) High-pressure crystal structure of kosmochlor, NaCrSi₂O₆, and systematics of anisotropic compression in pyroxenes. American Mineralogist, 88, 1025-1032. (pdf file) (erratum)
Wang, Z., Downs, R.T., Pischedda, V., Shetty, R., Saxena, S.K., Zha, C.S., Zhao, Y.S., Schiferl, D., and Waskowska, A. (2003) High-pressure X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopic studies of the tetragonal spinel CoFe₂O₄. Physical Review B, 68, 094101. (pdf file)
Wang, Z., Zhao, Y., Schiferl, D., Zha, C.S., Downs, R.T., Sekine, T. (2003) Critical pressure for weakening of size-induced stiffness in spinel-structure Si₃N₄ nanocrystals. Applied Physics Letters, 83, 3174-3176. (pdf file)
Pommier, C.J.S., Denton, M.B., and Downs, R.T. (2003) Raman spectroscopic study of spodumene (LiAlSi₂O₆) through the pressure-induced phase change from C2/c to P2₁/c. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 34, 769-775. (pdf file)
Gibbs, G.V., Whitten, A.E., Spackman, M.A., Stimpfl, M., Downs, R.T., and Carducci, M.D. (2003) An exploration of theoretical and experimental electron density distributions and SiO bonded interactions for the silica polymorph coesite. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, ASAP Web Release Date: 01-Nov-2003; DOI: 10.1021/jp030583+ (pdf file)
Wang, Z., Zhao, Y., Schiferl, D., Qian, J., Downs, R.T., Mao, H-K., and Sekine, T. (2003) Threshold pressure for disappearance of size-induced effect in spinel-structure Ge3N4 nanocrystals. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 107, 14151-14153 (pdf file)
Ross, N.L. and Downs, R.T. (2003) "Stuffed" framework structures at high pressure. In NATO ASI Series: High-Pressure Crystallography, P.F. McMillan and A. Katrusiak, Eds., Kluwer Academic Press.
Thompson, R.M., and Downs, R.T. (2004) Model pyroxenes II: Structural variation as a function of tetrahedral rotation. American Mineralogist 89, 614-628. (pdf file)
Clark, C.M., and Downs, R.T. (2004) Using the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database in the classroom. Invited paper, Journal of Geoscience Education 51, 76-80. (pdf file)
Downs, R.T., and Hazen, R.M. (2004) Chiral indices of crystalline surfaces as a measure of enantioselective potential. Invited paper, Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical 216, 273-285. (pdf file)
Wang, Z, Zhao, Y., Schiferl, D., Zha, C.S., and Downs, R.T. (2004) Pressure induced increase of particle size and resulting weakening of elastic stiffness of CeO₂ nanocrystals. Applied Physics Letters 85, 124-126. (pdf file)
Wang, Z, Tait, K., Zhao, Y., Schiferl, D., Zha, C.S., Uchida, H., and Downs, R.T. (2004) Size-induced reduction of transition pressure and enhancement of bulk modulus of AlN nanocrystals. Journal of Physical Chemistry B 108, 11506-11508. (pdf file)
Wang, Z, Zhao, Y., Tait, K., Liao, X., Schiferl, D., Zha, C.S., Downs, R.T., Qian J., Zhu, Y., and Shen, T. (2004) A quenchable superhard carbon phase synthesized by cold compression of carbon nanotubes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 101, 13699-13702 (pdf file)
Le Bail, A., Chateigner, D., Chen, X., Ciriotti, M., Cranswick, L.M.D., Downs, R.T., Lutterotti, L., Rajan, H., Yokochi, A.F.T. (2004) Does open data better serve the crystallographic community? International Union of Crystallography Newsletter 12, 27.

Books:

G.V. Gibbs, M.B. Boisen, Jr., R.T. Downs and K.L Bartelmehs (1991) X-ray Crystallography and Powder Diffraction Methods with Computer Applications. Virginia Tech Press, Blacksburg, Virginia.
Hazen, R.M., and Downs, R.T. (2000) High-Temperature and High-Pressure Crystal Chemistry, Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, Volume 41. Robert M. Hazen and Robert T. Downs, Editors. Mineralogical Society of America, Washington DC.

Funding:

Capitalization, University of Arizona, (1996) $240,000.
A device to apply hydrostatic high-pressure to crystals (1999-2001) Faculty Small Grants Program, University of Arizona Foundation, $5000.
Compression mechanisms of upper mantle minerals (1999-2002) National Science Foundation, $186,997.
Advancing Computational and Visualization Skills in Geosciences (2000-2002) National Science Foundation, $52,148. Joint, with M. Hall-Wallace (P.I.), R. F. Butler, P. Kresan, J. Pelletier.
Compression mechanisms of upper mantle minerals, Research Experience for Undergraduates (2000-2002) National Science Foundation, $12,500.
The crystal structure database and analysis tools project (2001-2004) National Science Foundation, $350,000.
University of Nevada, Las Vegas subcontract - Development of Windows-based single-crystal diffractometer software (2002) Department of Energy, $34,815.
University of Nevada at Las Vegas subcontract (2002-2003) Development of Windows-based single crystal diffractometer software for Argonne National Labs' Advance Photon Source, Department of Energy, $108,669.
A high performance Raman spectroscopy system for Mars surface studies. (2003-2005) Co-PI: B. McIntosh (Hamilton Sundstrand Sensor Systems), M.B. Denton (U of Arizona), R.T. Downs (UofA) and W. Doyle (Axiom Analytical, Inc.) NASA, $1,491,770.
Clathrate Hydrates Science and Technology. (2003-2005) PI: Yusheng Zhao (Los Alamos) Co-PI: D.L. Bish, L.L. Daemen, A. Migliori, R.P. Currier, L.R. Pratt, P.C. Lichtner, D.D. Hickmott. Collaborators: H-K Mao, R. Hemley, J. Parise, R.T. Downs. Department of Energy $4,350,000.
Combination of private funding and matching funds from the College of Science for a new Bruker X8Apex single-crystal diffractometer and a Bruker D8Advance powder diffractometer plus laboratory renovations, $450,000.

Press Release:

Jan 24, 2001 Arizona Star Press Release
Jan 29, 2001 Arizona Star UA's Raman spectrometer is the last word on mineral ID
Oct 2, 2002 Arizona Star UA scientists developing Star Trek-like device
Oct 3, 2002 Arizona Star UA tool peeks inside rocks
Oct 4, 2002 Spectroscopy Now U Arizona Tool To Peek Inside Martian Rocks - Star Trek Style!
Aug 20, 2004 Science, NetWatch - Crystal Palace.
Sept 16, 2004 Nature, Research Highlights: Nanotubes get hard under pressure.
Sept, 2004 Nanotechnology: Nanotubes harden up under pressure.

Last updated: Sept 28, 2004 Return to pages of the Mineralogy and Crystallography Group
in the Geosciences Department of the University of Arizona

CURRICULUM VITAE Robert Terrance Downs

CURRICULUM VITAE
Robert Terrance Downs