Related papers: Superionic hydrogen in Earth's deep interior
The superionic state is a phase of matter in which liquid-like ionic mobility coexists with a solid crystalline lattice. Recently identified in Earth's inner core (IC), this state has attracted considerable attention for its unique kinetic…
Although hydrogen is the simplest of atoms, it does not form the simplest of solids or liquids. Quantum effects in these phases are considerable (a consequence of the light proton mass) and they have a demonstrable and often puzzling…
The ever-expanding catalog of detected super-Earths calls for theoretical studies of their properties in the case of a substantial water layer. This work considers such water planets with a range of masses and water mass fractions (2 to 5…
This work presents theoretical studies which combine aspects of combustion and explosion theory with exoplanetary atmospheric science. Super Earths could possess a large amount of molecular hydrogen depending on disk, planetary and stellar…
Superionic ice, where water molecules dissociate into a lattice of oxygen ions and a rapidly diffusing 'gas' of protons, represents an exotic state of matter with broad implications for planetary interiors and energy applications. Recently,…
How life started on Earth is an unsolved mystery. There are various hypotheses for the location ranging from outer space to the seafloor, subseafloor or potentially deeper. Here, we applied extensive ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD)…
Carbonates are the main species that bring carbon deep into our planet through subduction. They are an important rock-forming mineral group, fundamentally distinct from silicates in Earth's crust in that carbon binds to three oxygen atoms,…
Metallic hydrogen, existing in remarkably extreme environments, was predicted to exhibit long-sought room-temperature superconductivity. Although the superconductivity of metallic hydrogen has not been confirmed experimentally,…
The formation of hydrocarbons in Earth's interior has traditionally been considered to have biogenic origins; however, growing evidence suggests that some hydrocarbons may instead originate abiotically in the deep carbon cycle. It is widely…
The Fe-O system is fundamental to understanding the composition and properties of the Earth's core. Recent studies have suggested the possible existence of stable, iron-rich FenO compounds at around 215 GPa. Here, we performed…
Behaviours of hydrogen, such as fluidity and metallicity, are crucial for our understanding of planetary interiors and the emerging field of high-temperature superconducting hydrides. These behaviours were discovered in complex phase…
Gas hydrates are considered fundamental building blocks of giant icy planets like Neptune and similar exoplanets. The existence of these materials in the interiors of giant icy planets, which are subject to high pressures and temperatures,…
Using density functional molecular dynamics simulations, we study the behavior of different hydrogen-oxygen compounds at megabar pressures and several thousands of degrees Kelvin where water has been predicted to occur in superionic form.…
Investigating the fate of dissolved carbon dioxide under extreme conditions is critical to understanding the deep carbon cycle in the Earth, a process that ultimately influences global climate change. We used first-principles molecular…
The hydrogen ions in the superionic ice can move freely, playing the role of electrons in metals. Its electromagnetic behavior is the key to explaining the anomalous magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune. Based on the ab initio evolutionary…
Understanding the internal structures of planets with a large H$_2$O component is important for the characterisation of sub-Neptune planets. The finding that the mini-Neptune K2-18b could host a liquid water ocean beneath a mostly hydrogen…
Using density functional molecular dynamics free energy calculations, we show that the body-centered-cubic phase of superionic ice previously believed to be the only phase is in fact thermodynamically unstable compared to a novel phase with…
Small, close-in exoplanets are divided into two sub-populations: super-Earths and sub-Neptunes. Most super-Earths are thought to have lost their primordially accreted hydrogen-dominated atmospheres via thermally driven winds. We consider…
Hydrogen exhibits quantum phenomena, such as tunneling in materials. According to theory, the quantum properties of hydrogen change significantly in superconductors due to the emergence of an energy gap on the Fermi surface, which reduces…
We study superconductivity in the superionic phase of the clathrate hydride Li$_2$MgH$_{16}$, where hydrogen ions diffuse among the lattice formed by lithium and magnesium ions. By employing the stochastic path-integral approach, we…