Lucas M. Fifer
Research areas
I’m interested in the chemistry and potential for life within the icy moons of our solar system, especially Saturn’s moon Enceladus. My research focuses on what Enceladus’ erupting plumes can tell us about the composition and habitability of its subsurface ocean. Through numerical models and laboratory experiments I try to understand how the eruption process may fractionate the plume material, causing compositional differences between the plume and ocean. I’m also interested in the origin of gases in Enceladus’ ocean, and how their abundances may have changed over time.
I am advised by David Catling and co-advised by Jonathan Toner.
Selected publications
Fifer, L. M., Catling, D. C., and Toner, J. D. 2022. “Chemical Fractionation Modeling of Plumes Indicates a Gas-Rich, Moderately Alkaline Enceladus Ocean.” The Planetary Science Journal 3 (8): 191. https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ac7a9f.