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

  • Astrophysics and Cosmology
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Abstract

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 sp 2-bonded polymeric carbon. Furthermore, we predict that at high temperature 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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Mathematics and Center for Computational Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, D-55128, Mainz, Germany

    D. Richters

  2. Institute of Physical Chemistry and Center for Computational Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, D-55128, Mainz, Germany

    Th. D. Kühne

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  1. D. Richters
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  2. Th. D. Kühne
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Correspondence to Th. D. Kühne.

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Richters, D., Kühne, T.D. Liquid methane at extreme temperature and pressure: Implications for models of Uranus and Neptune. Jetp Lett. 97, 184–187 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0021364013040127

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0021364013040127

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