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Mixtures of planetary ices at extreme conditions

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  • Mal-Soon Lee

    (The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics
    Present address: Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA.)

  • Sandro Scandolo

    (The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics
    CNR-IOM Democritos National Simulation Center)

Abstract

The interiors of Neptune and Uranus are believed to be primarily composed of a fluid mixture of methane and water. The mixture is subjected to pressures up to several hundred gigapascal, causing the ionization of water. Laboratory and simulation studies so far have focused on the properties of the individual components. Here we show, using first-principle molecular dynamic simulations, that the properties of the mixed fluid are qualitatively different with respect to those of its components at the same conditions. We observe a pressure-induced softening of the methane–water intermolecular repulsion that points to an enhancement of mixing under extreme conditions. Ionized water causes the progressive ionization of methane and the mixture becomes electronically conductive at milder conditions than pure water, indicating that the planetary magnetic field of Uranus and Neptune may originate at shallower depths than currently assumed.

Suggested Citation

  • Mal-Soon Lee & Sandro Scandolo, 2011. "Mixtures of planetary ices at extreme conditions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 2(1), pages 1-5, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:2:y:2011:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms1184
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1184
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