Grüneisen parameter for HCP iron at extreme compression

Abstract

The Thomas–Fermi approximation gives the Grüneisen parameter γ=γ∞=1/2 for all materials at extreme compression (P→∞ or V→0). After re-analyzing the existing experimental data of volume dependence of Grüneisen parameter γ of hexagonal close-packed (HCP) iron, we find that γ=1/2+a(V/V 0)1/3+b(V/V 0) n , where a, b and n are constants. Based on this new form of γ, the second Grüneisen parameter q, the Debye temperature θD and the shear sound velocity v s of HCP iron are discussed in the present work. It is found that the zero pressure second Grüneisen parameter q 0=0.654, which is consistent with the previously determined value of HCP iron for Earth's core physics from Dubrovinsky et al. The calculations for the Debye temperature and the shear sound velocity are also found to be in good agreement with the experimental data.