Abstract
Diamond formation in polystyrene (C8H8)n, which is laser-compressed and heated to conditions around 150 GPa and 5000 K, has recently been demonstrated in the laboratory [Kraus et al., Nat. Astron. 1, 606–611 (2017)]. Here, we show an extended analysis and comparison to first-principles simulations of the acquired data and their implications for planetary physics and inertial confinement fusion. Moreover, we discuss the advanced diagnostic capabilities of adding high-quality small angle X-ray scattering and spectrally resolved X-ray scattering to the platform, which shows great prospects of precisely studying the kinetics of chemical reactions in dense plasma environments at pressures exceeding 100 GPa.
Highlights
Matter states in the transition regime between condensed matter and hot, dense plasma exhibit temperatures of several thousand kelvins, corresponding to thermal energies approaching 1 eV
We show an extended analysis and comparison to first-principles simulations of the acquired data and their implications for planetary physics and inertial confinement fusion
As the free hydrogen created by the carbonhydrogen separation around 150 GPa and 5000 K is expected to be metallic,[69] the experimental platform described may provide opportunities for further studies of this exotic state of matter that is thought to shape the magnetic fields of giant planets
Summary
Matter states in the transition regime between condensed matter and hot, dense plasma exhibit temperatures of several thousand kelvins, corresponding to thermal energies approaching 1 eV. The high-pressure and high-temperature environment may result in chemical activity: methane is predicted to first dissociate and form polymeric hydrocarbon chains[19] before deeper towards the core, a full species separation into metallic hydrogen and carbon in the form of diamond may occur.[18,20–23]. These diamond particles have a higher density than the surrounding ice fluid, and the isolated carbon will precipitate towards the rocky core. We provide extended analysis and discussion of previously published XRD data in the context of first-principles simulations as well as additional data sets from laser-compressed polystyrene
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