Exploring conductive and metallic hydrogen (METALLICHYDROGEN)
Exploring conductive and metallic hydrogen
(METALLICHYDROGEN)
Start date: Mar 1, 2011,
End date: Feb 28, 2017
PROJECT
FINISHED
Hydrogen under ambient pressure and low temperature forms a molecular crystal which under high pressure of ~400 GPa is predicted turn into metal and at further compression up to ~500 GPa hydrogen molecules dissociate and are transformed to a monoatomic crystal. This simplest metal is predicted to be a superconductor with a very high critical temperature Tc ~200 K. Moreover, this superconductor might be recovered to ambient pressure. Metallic hydrogen might acquire a new quantum state, namely the metallic superfluid and the superconducting superfluid. Because the zero-point motions of the hydrogen nuclei (protons) are significant, they might stabilize metallic hydrogen in a zero-temperature liquid ground state similar to liquid helium. For this state, superconductivity for electrons and protons (Fermi-liquids) is expected in hydrogen, and superconductivity for electrons and superfluidity for deutrons in deuterium (an isotope of hydrogen). For astrophysics the study of metallic hydrogen is important because it might be a main constituent in giant planets and stars.We plan to explore three directions to achieve and study metallic hydrogen: (a) Compression of pure hydrogen at room and lower temperatures to record pressures of 440 GPa which we currently achieve (b) Exploration of the higher temperature domain P> 150 GPa, T<1000 K; (c) Study of hydrogen dominant materials at low pressures P>50 GPa and low temperatures. We will give first preference to compression pure hydrogen to metallic state at low temperatures to verify the theoretical prediction in the region of ~ 400 GPa. In case this pressure would not be sufficient our study will be focused on parallel tasks hydrogen dominant materials, and fluid hydrogen.
Get Access to the 1st Network for European Cooperation
Log In