First Principles Simulations of Hydrogen and Helium at High Pressures

We also study the equation of state of hydrogen, helium and hydrogen-helium mixtures at pressures beyond 200 GPa. We find very good agreement between both simulation methodologies for pressures beyond 600 GPa. From the equation of state calculations, an analysis of the miscibility properties of the mixture is performed. We find that the temperatures for the dcmixing of helium and metallic hydrogen are sufficiently high to cross the planetary adiabat of Saturn at pressures around 5 Mbar. Helium is partially miscible throughout a significant portion of the interior of Saturn, and to a lesser extent in Jupiter. These results are directly relevant to models of the interior structure and evolution of Jovian planets.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Physics

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Morales, Miguel Angel

Contributors dc:contributor

• Duane Johnson

• Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3392227

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/80616