Pair-effective interionic interaction and metallization of helium

Abstract

The pair-effective interionic interaction in metallic helium has been calculated at various densities. The terms of the second and third order of perturbation theory have been taken into account in the potential of the pair interaction. The metallic state of helium has been analyzed for both singly and doubly ionized helium atoms. In the second state, which corresponds to higher densities, the potential of the electron-ion interaction is of Coulomb type. The pair-effective interionic potential at densities of several grams per cubic centimeter is characteristic of metals with potential wells of several thousand Kelvins, which makes it possible to assume the existence of a stable liquid metallic phase for helium at these densities and temperatures. In the first case, the simulated potential is applied, the single parameter of which is determined based on the assumption that the transition of helium into a metallic state occurs at the same density of electric current as in the case of hydrogen metallization. In this metallic phase pair, the effective interionic potential is also characteristic of metals; however, the potential well for helium is significantly smaller than for hydrogen and decreases faster with an increase in the electron density. The opposite is true for the semiconductor phase, i.e., the potential well is significantly larger for helium than for hydrogen and increases faster with a decrease in electron density. In this case, significantly higher temperatures are required for the thermal activation of metallic conductance.