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Laser-driven shock experiments on precompressed water: Implications for "icy" giant planets.
Kanani K M Lee1, L Robin Benedetti, Raymond Jeanloz
1Department of Earth & Planetary Science, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720-4767, USA.
The Journal of Chemical Physics
|July 26, 2006
Summary
High-pressure experiments reveal water becomes opaque and reflective, indicating a transition to an electronic conductor. This suggests greater electrical conductivity in icy giant planets due to electron contributions.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Planetary Science
Background:
- Water exhibits unique properties under extreme pressure and temperature.
- Understanding planetary interiors requires knowledge of material behavior under deep planetary conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the optical and electronic properties of water under high-pressure shock compression.
- To determine the conditions for water's transition to an electronic conductor.
Main Methods:
- Laser-driven shock compression of precompressed water samples.
- Optical property measurements (opacity and reflectivity) at infrared wavelengths.
Main Results:
- Water transitions from transparent to opaque and then highly reflective under shock compression.
- Reflectivity onset, indicative of a semiconductor-to-electronic conductor transition, occurs above ~130 GPa for samples precompressed to 1 GPa.
- Observed changes suggest enhanced electronic conductivity in water at extreme pressures.
Conclusions:
- Water's conductivity in the deep interiors of icy giant planets may be higher than previously estimated.
- An additional contribution from electrons significantly impacts water's conductivity under planetary interior conditions.