First-principles calculations of X-ray absorption spectra for warm dense methane

Abstract

X-ray absorption spectrum is a powerful tool for atomic structure detection on materials under extreme conditions. Here, we perform first-principles molecular dynamics and X-ray absorption spectrum calculations for warm dense methane under thermodynamical conditions along a Hugoniot curve. From the molecular dynamics trajectories, the detailed atomic structures are examined for each condition. The carbon K-shell X-ray absorption spectrum is calculated, and its change with temperature and pressure is discussed. The methane systems under extreme conditions may contain radicals CHx (x = 1,2,3), molecules CH4, and carbon chains CmHn (m,n >1). These various products show quite different contributions to the total X-ray spectrum due to the different atomic and electronic structures. The change of the total X-ray spectrum along the Hugoniot curve is then attributed to the change of the products induced by the temperature and pressure. Some clear signatures on the X-ray absorption spectrum under different thermodynamical conditions are proposed, which provide useful information for future X-ray experiments.