Phase separation for a dense fluid mixture of nuclei

Abstract

It is shown by Monte Carlo calculations that fluid mixtures of classical point ions in an uniform electron-gas background separate into two phases primarily from potential-energy considerations. For protons and ..cap alpha.. particles the critical temperature over an enormous pressure range is found to be near 1 eV, and only at extremely high pressures (approx.10/sup 8/ Mbar) does the mixture become stable. Phase separation at lower pressures, as in the interior of Jupiter (approx.40 Mbar, 1 eV), is shown to be unlikely on the basis of more realistic models which modify, however crudely, the uniform electron approximation.