dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaFree-energy model for fluid helium at high density
| Authors | Christophe Winisdoerffer, Gilles Chabrier |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0412033 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0412033 |
| DOI | 10.1103/PhysRevE.71.026402 |
| Journal | Phys.Rev.E71:026402,2005 |
Abstract
We present a semi-analytical free-energy model aimed at characterizing the thermodynamic properties of dense fluid helium, from the low-density atomic phase to the high-density fully ionized regime. The model is based on a free-energy minimization method and includes various different contributions representative of the correlations between atomic and ionic species and electrons. This model allows the computation of the thermodynamic properties of dense helium over an extended range of density and temperature and leads to the computation of the phase diagram of dense fluid helium, with its various temperature and pressure ionization contours. One of the predictions of the model is that pressure ionization occurs abruptly at $\rho \simgr 10$ g cm$^{-3}$, {\it i.e.} $P\simgr 20$ Mbar, from atomic helium He to fully ionized helium He$^{2+}$, or at least to a strongly ionized state, without He$^{+}$ stage, except at high enough temperature for temperature ionization to become dominant. These predictions and this phase diagram provide a guide for future dynamical experiments or numerical first-principle calculations aimed at studying the properties of helium at very high density, in particular its metallization. Indeed, the characterization of the helium phase diagram bears important consequences for the thermodynamic, magnetic and transport properties of cool and dense astrophysical objects, among which the solar and the numerous recently discovered extrasolar giant planets.
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"abstract": "We present a semi-analytical free-energy model aimed at characterizing the\nthermodynamic properties of dense fluid helium, from the low-density atomic\nphase to the high-density fully ionized regime. The model is based on a\nfree-energy minimization method and includes various different contributions\nrepresentative of the correlations between atomic and ionic species and\nelectrons. This model allows the computation of the thermodynamic properties of\ndense helium over an extended range of density and temperature and leads to the\ncomputation of the phase diagram of dense fluid helium, with its various\ntemperature and pressure ionization contours. One of the predictions of the\nmodel is that pressure ionization occurs abruptly at $\\rho \\simgr 10$ g\ncm$^{-3}$, {\\it i.e.} $P\\simgr 20$ Mbar, from atomic helium He to fully ionized\nhelium He$^{2+}$, or at least to a strongly ionized state, without He$^{+}$\nstage, except at high enough temperature for temperature ionization to become\ndominant. These predictions and this phase diagram provide a guide for future\ndynamical experiments or numerical first-principle calculations aimed at\nstudying the properties of helium at very high density, in particular its\nmetallization. Indeed, the characterization of the helium phase diagram bears\nimportant consequences for the thermodynamic, magnetic and transport properties\nof cool and dense astrophysical objects, among which the solar and the numerous\nrecently discovered extrasolar giant planets.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0412033",
"authors": [
"Christophe Winisdoerffer",
"Gilles Chabrier"
],
"categories": [
"physics.plasm-ph",
"astro-ph",
"cond-mat.other",
"physics.gen-ph"
],
"doi": "10.1103/PhysRevE.71.026402",
"journal_ref": "Phys.Rev.E71:026402,2005",
"title": "Free-energy model for fluid helium at high density",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0412033"
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