6533b7d4fe1ef96bd1261eb7

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Liquid methane at extreme temperature and pressure: Implications for models of Uranus and Neptune

Dorothee RichtersThomas D. Kühne

subject

Monatomic gasMaterials sciencePhysics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)HydrogenUranusDiamondchemistry.chemical_elementElectronic structureengineering.materialAstrobiologyMolecular dynamicschemistryNeptunePhysics - Chemical PhysicsengineeringCarbonPhysics - Computational PhysicsCondensed Matter - Statistical MechanicsAstrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics

description

We present large scale electronic structure based molecular dynamics simulations of liquid methane at planetary conditions. In particular, we address the controversy of whether or not the interior of Uranus and Neptune consists of diamond. In our simulations we find no evidence for the formation of diamond, but rather sp2-bonded polymeric carbon. Furthermore, we predict that at high tem- perature hydrogen may exist in its monoatomic and metallic state. The implications of our finding for the planetary models of Uranus and Neptune are in detail discussed.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2012-06-20
10.1134/s0021364013040127http://arxiv.org/abs/1206.4500