Electrical conductivity of water compressed dynamically to pressures of 70–180 GPa (0.7–1.8 Mbar)

In operando measurements of high explosives

In operando studies of high explosives involve dynamic extreme conditions produced as a shock wave travels through the explosive to produce a detonation. Here, we describe a method to safely produce detonations and dynamic extreme conditions in high explosives and in inert solids and liquids on a tabletop in a high-throughput format. This method uses a shock compression microscope, a microscope with a pulsed laser that can launch a hypervelocity flyer plate along with a velocimeter, an optical pyrometer, and a nanosecond camera that together can measure pressures, densities, and temperatures with high time and space resolution (2 ns and 2 µm). We discuss how a detonation builds up in liquid nitromethane and show that we can produce and study detonations in sample volumes close to the theoretical minimum. We then discuss how a detonation builds up from a shock in a plastic-bonded explosive (PBX) based on HMX (1,3,5,7-Tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane), where the initial steps are hotspot formation and deflagration growth in the shocked microstructure. A method is demonstrated where we can measure thermal emission from high-temperature reactions in every HMX crystal in the PBX, with the intent of determining which configurations produce the critical hot spots that grow and ignite the entire PBX.

Development of a transient complex impedance measurement device used in quasi-isentropic compression experiments

A complex impedance measurement device with a short response time and high noise immunity is presented in this paper. The device based on a radio-frequency reflectometer was specially developed for electro-physical property investigations of materials in quasi-isentropic compression experiments. The maximum operating frequency of the device is up to 600 MHz for reducing intense low-frequency noises. Meanwhile, an off-line signal processing code was developed to improve the response time of the device to less than 10 ns. Using the device, the complex impedance and electrical conductivity of water compressed by an explosive-driven magnetic flux compression generator were measured, and an abrupt change in the complex impedance of water caused by a liquid-solid transition was directly observed under intense electromagnetic interference.

Dynamic compression of water to conditions in ice giant interiors

Recent discoveries of water-rich Neptune-like exoplanets require a more detailed understanding of the phase diagram of H₂O at pressure–temperature conditions relevant to their planetary interiors. The unusual non-dipolar magnetic fields of ice giant planets, produced by convecting liquid ionic water, are influenced by exotic high-pressure states of H₂O—yet the structure of ice in this state is challenging to determine experimentally. Here we present X-ray diffraction evidence of a body-centered cubic (BCC) structured H₂O ice at 200 GPa and ~ 5000 K, deemed ice XIX, using the X-ray Free Electron Laser of the Linac Coherent Light Source to probe the structure of the oxygen sub-lattice during dynamic compression. Although several cubic or orthorhombic structures have been predicted to be the stable structure at these conditions, we show this BCC ice phase is stable to multi-Mbar pressures and temperatures near the melt boundary. This suggests variable and increased electrical conductivity to greater depths in ice giant planets that may promote the generation of multipolar magnetic fields.

Pressure-Induced Superionicity of H- in Hypervalent Sodium Silicon Hydrides

Superionic states simultaneously exhibit properties of a fluid and a solid. Proton (H⁺) superionicity in ice, H₃O, He-H₂O, and He-NH₃ compounds is well-studied. However, hydride (H^-) superionicity in H-rich compounds is rare, being associated with instability and strongly reducing conditions. Silicon, sodium, and hydrogen are abundant elements in many astrophysical bodies. Here, we use first-principles calculations to show that, at high pressure, Na, Si, and H can form several hypervalent compounds. A previously unreported superionic state of Na₂SiH₆ results from unconstrained H^- in the hypervalent [SiH₆]^2- unit. Na₂SiH₆ is dynamically stable at low pressure (3 GPa), becoming superionic at 5 GPa, and re-entering solid/fluid states at about 25 GPa. Our observation of H^- transport opens up a new field of H^- conductors. It also has implications for the formation of conducting layers at depth in exotic carbon exoplanets, potentially enhancing the habitability of such planets.

Behavior and properties of water in silicate melts under deep mantle conditions

Water (H2O) as one of the most abundant fluids present in Earth plays crucial role in the generation and transport of magmas in the interior. Though hydrous silicate melts have been studied extensively, the experimental data are confined to relatively low pressures and the computational results are still rare. Moreover, these studies imply large differences in the way water influences the physical properties of silicate magmas, such as density and electrical conductivity. Here, we investigate the equation of state, speciation, and transport properties of water dissolved in Mg1-xFexSiO3 and Mg2(1-x)Fe2xSiO4 melts (for x = 0 and 0.25) as well as in its bulk (pure) fluid state over the entire mantle pressure regime at 2000-4000 K using first-principles molecular dynamics. The simulation results allow us to constrain the partial molar volume of the water component in melts along with the molar volume of pure water. The predicted volume of silicate melt + water solution is negative at low pressures and becomes almost zero above 15 GPa. Consequently, the hydrous component tends to lower the melt density to similar extent over much of the mantle pressure regime irrespective of composition. Our results also show that hydrogen diffuses fast in silicate melts and enhances the melt electrical conductivity in a way that differs from electrical conduction in the bulk water. The speciation of the water component varies considerably from the bulk water structure as well. Water is dissolved in melts mostly as hydroxyls at low pressure and as -O-H-O-, -O-H-O-H- and other extended species with increasing pressure. On the other hand, the pure water behaves as a molecular fluid below 15 GPa, gradually becoming a dissociated fluid with further compression. On the basis of modeled density and conductivity results, we suggest that partial melts containing a few percent of water may be gravitationally trapped both above and below the upper mantle-transition region. Moreover, such hydrous melts can give rise to detectable electrical conductance by means of electromagnetic sounding observations.

Coexistence of plastic and partially diffusive phases in a helium-methane compound

Helium and methane are major components of giant icy planets and are abundant in the universe. However, helium is the most inert element in the periodic table and methane is one of the most hydrophobic molecules, thus whether they can react with each other is of fundamental importance. Here, our crystal structure searches and first-principles calculations predict that a He3CH4 compound is stable over a wide range of pressures from 55 to 155 GPa and a HeCH4 compound becomes stable around 105 GPa. As nice examples of pure van der Waals crystals, the insertion of helium atoms changes the original packing of pure methane molecules and also largely hinders the polymerization of methane at higher pressures. After analyzing the diffusive properties during the melting of He3CH4 at high pressure and high temperature, in addition to a plastic methane phase, we have discovered an unusual phase which exhibits coexistence of diffusive helium and plastic methane. In addition, the range of the diffusive behavior within the helium-methane phase diagram is found to be much narrower compared to that of previously predicted helium-water compounds. This may be due to the weaker van der Waals interactions between methane molecules compared to those in helium-water compounds, and that the helium-methane compound melts more easily.

Heat and charge transport in H2O at ice-giant conditions from ab initio molecular dynamics simulations

The impact of the inner structure and thermal history of planets on their observable features, such as luminosity or magnetic field, crucially depends on the poorly known heat and charge transport properties of their internal layers. The thermal and electric conductivities of different phases of water (liquid, solid, and super-ionic) occurring in the interior of ice giant planets, such as Uranus or Neptune, are evaluated from equilibrium ab initio molecular dynamics, leveraging recent progresses in the theory and data analysis of transport in extended systems. The implications of our findings on the evolution models of the ice giants are briefly discussed.

Plastic and superionic phases in ammonia-water mixtures at high pressures and temperatures

The interiors of giant icy planets depend on the properties of hot, dense mixtures of the molecular ices water, ammonia, and methane. Here, we discuss results from first-principles molecular dynamics simulations up to 500 GPa and 7000 K for four different ammonia-water mixtures that correspond to the stable stoichiometries found in solid ammonia hydrates. We show that all mixtures support the formation of plastic and superionic phases at elevated pressures and temperatures, before eventually melting into molecular or ionic liquids. All mixtures' melting lines are found to be close to the isentropes of Uranus and Neptune. Through local structure analyses we trace and compare the evolution of chemical composition and longevity of chemical species across the thermally activated states. Under specific conditions we find that protons can be less mobile in the fluid state than in the (colder, solid) superionic regime.

Nanosecond X-ray diffraction of shock-compressed superionic water ice

Since Bridgman's discovery of five solid water (H₂O) ice phases¹ in 1912, studies on the extraordinary polymorphism of H₂O have documented more than seventeen crystalline and several amorphous ice structures^2,3, as well as rich metastability and kinetic effects^4,5. This unique behaviour is due in part to the geometrical frustration of the weak intermolecular hydrogen bonds and the sizeable quantum motion of the light hydrogen ions (protons). Particularly intriguing is the prediction that H₂O becomes superionic^6-12-with liquid-like protons diffusing through the solid lattice of oxygen-when subjected to extreme pressures exceeding 100 gigapascals and high temperatures above 2,000 kelvin. Numerical simulations suggest that the characteristic diffusion of the protons through the empty sites of the oxygen solid lattice (1) gives rise to a surprisingly high ionic conductivity above 100 Siemens per centimetre, that is, almost as high as typical metallic (electronic) conductivity, (2) greatly increases the ice melting temperature^7-13 to several thousand kelvin, and (3) favours new ice structures with a close-packed oxygen lattice^13-15. Because confining such hot and dense H₂O in the laboratory is extremely challenging, experimental data are scarce. Recent optical measurements along the Hugoniot curve (locus of shock states) of water ice VII showed evidence of superionic conduction and thermodynamic signatures for melting¹⁶, but did not confirm the microscopic structure of superionic ice. Here we use laser-driven shockwaves to simultaneously compress and heat liquid water samples to 100-400 gigapascals and 2,000-3,000 kelvin. In situ X-ray diffraction measurements show that under these conditions, water solidifies within a few nanoseconds into nanometre-sized ice grains that exhibit unambiguous evidence for the crystalline oxygen lattice of superionic water ice. The X-ray diffraction data also allow us to document the compressibility of ice at these extreme conditions and a temperature- and pressure-induced phase transformation from a body-centred-cubic ice phase (probably ice X) to a novel face-centred-cubic, superionic ice phase, which we name ice XVIII^2,17.

On the chain-melted phase of matter

Various single elements form incommensurate crystal structures under pressure, where a zeolite-type "host" sublattice surrounds a "guest" sublattice comprising 1D chains of atoms. On "chain melting," diffraction peaks from the guest sublattice vanish, while those from the host remain. Diffusion of the guest atoms is expected to be confined to the channels in the host sublattice, which suggests 1D melting. Here, we present atomistic simulations of potassium to investigate this phenomenon and demonstrate that the chain-melted phase has no long-ranged order either along or between the chains. This 3D disorder provides the extensive entropy necessary to make the chain melt a true thermodynamic phase of matter, yet with the unique property that diffusion remains confined to 1D only. Calculations necessitated the development of an interatomic forcefield using machine learning, which we show fully reproduces potassium's phase diagram, including the chain-melted state and 14 known phase transitions.

First principles simulation of damage to solvated nucleotides due to shock waves

We present a first-principles molecular dynamics study of the effect of shock waves (SWs) propagating in a model biological medium. We find that the SW can cause chemical modifications through varied and complex mechanisms, in particular, phosphate-sugar and sugar-base bond breaks. In addition, the SW promotes the dissociation of water molecules, thus enhancing the ionic strength of the medium. Freed protons can hydrolyze base and sugar rings previously opened by the shock. However, many of these events are only temporary, and bonds reform rapidly. Irreversible damage is observed for pressures above 15-20 GPa. These results are important to gain a better understanding of the microscopic damage mechanisms underlying cosmic-ray irradiation in space and ion-beam cancer therapy.

Ab initio calculation of thermodynamic potentials and entropies for superionic water

We construct thermodynamic potentials for two superionic phases of water [with body-centered cubic (bcc) and face-centered cubic (fcc) oxygen lattice] using a combination of density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics simulations (MD). For this purpose, a generic expression for the free energy of warm dense matter is developed and parametrized with equation of state data from the DFT-MD simulations. A second central aspect is the accurate determination of the entropy, which is done using an approximate two-phase method based on the frequency spectra of the nuclear motion. The boundary between the bcc superionic phase and the ices VII and X calculated with thermodynamic potentials from DFT-MD is consistent with that directly derived from the simulations. Differences in the physical properties of the bcc and fcc superionic phases and their impact on interior modeling of water-rich giant planets are discussed.

Changes of water hydrogen bond network with different externalities

It is crucial to uncover the mystery of water cluster and structural motif to have an insight into the abundant anomalies bound to water. In this context, the analysis of influence factors is an alternative way to shed light on the nature of water clusters. Water structure has been tentatively explained within different frameworks of structural models. Based on comprehensive analysis and summary of the studies on the response of water to four externalities (i.e., temperature, pressure, solutes and external fields), the changing trends of water structure and a deduced intrinsic structural motif are put forward in this work. The variations in physicochemical and biological effects of water induced by each externality are also discussed to emphasize the role of water in our daily life. On this basis, the underlying problems that need to be further studied are formulated by pointing out the limitations attached to current study techniques and to outline prominent studies that have come up recently.

Electrical conductivity measurements of aqueous fluids under pressure with a hydrothermal diamond anvil cell

Electrical conductivity data of aqueous fluids under pressure can be used to derive the dissociation constants of electrolytes, to assess the effect of ionic dissociation on mineral solubility, and to interpret magnetotelluric data of earth's interior where a free fluid phase is present. Due to limitation on the tensile strength of the alloy material of hydrothermal autoclaves, previous measurements of fluid conductivity were mostly restricted to less than 0.4 GPa and 800 °C. By adapting a Bassett-type hydrothermal diamond anvil cell, we have developed a new method for acquiring electrical conductivity of aqueous fluids under pressure. Our preliminary results for KCl solutions using the new method are consistent with literature data acquired with the conventional method, but the new method has great potential for working in a much broader pressure range.

Determination of the phase diagram of water and investigation of the electrical transport properties of ices VI and VII

The phase diagram of water near the ice VI-ice VII-liquid triple point and electrical transport properties of these ices have been studied by in situ electrical conductivity measurements in a diamond anvil cell. The obtained phase boundary between ices VI and VII and the melting curve for these ices are in accord with most previous results. The different properties and amount of orientational defects in ice VI and ice VII are associated with abrupt changes in conductivity when a phase transition from ice VI to ice VII occurs. The electrical transport mechanisms of these two ice polymorphs can be understood in terms of the conduction of the already existing ions and Bjerrum defects.

High bandwidth differential amplifier for shock experiments

We developed a high bandwidth differential amplifier for gas gun shock experiments of low-resistance metals. The circuit has a bandwidth up to 1 GHz, and is capable of measuring signals of ≤1.5 V with a common mode rejection of 250 V. Conductivity measurements of gas gun targets are measured by flowing high currents through the targets. The voltage is measured across the target using a technique similar to a four-point probe. Because of the design of the current source and load, the target voltage is ∼250 V relative to ground. Since the expected voltage change in the target is <1 V, the differential amplifier must have a large common mode rejection. Various amplifying designs are shown, although the increased amplification decreases bandwidth. Bench tests show that the amplifier can withstand significant common mode dc voltage and measure 10 ns, and 50 mV signals.

Ab initio molecular dynamics study of dissociation of water under an electric field

The behavior of liquid water under an electric field is a crucial phenomenon in science and engineering. However, its detailed description at a microscopic level is difficult to achieve experimentally. Here we report on the first ab initio molecular-dynamics study on water under an electric field. We observe that the hydrogen-bond length and the molecular orientation are significantly modified at low-to-moderate field intensities. Fields beyond a threshold of about 0.35  V/Å are able to dissociate molecules and sustain an ionic current via a series of correlated proton jumps. Upon applying even more intense fields (∼1.0  V/Å), a 15%-20% fraction of molecules are instantaneously dissociated and the resulting ionic flow yields a conductance of about 7.8  Ω-1 cm-1, in good agreement with experimental values. This result paves the way to quantum-accurate microscopic studies of the effect of electric fields on aqueous solutions and, thus, to massive applications of ab initio molecular dynamics in neurobiology, electrochemistry, and hydrogen economy.

Dynamical screening and ionic conductivity in water from ab initio simulations

We present a method to calculate ionic conductivities of complex fluids from ab initio simulations. This is achieved by combining density functional theory molecular dynamics simulations with polarization theory. Conductivities are then obtained via a Green-Kubo formula using time-dependent effective charges of electronically screened ions. The method is applied to two different phases of warm dense water. We observe large fluctuations in the effective charges; protons can transport effective charges greater than +e for ultrashort time scales. Furthermore, we compare our results with a simpler model of ionic conductivity in water that is based on diffusion coefficients. Our approach can be directly applied to study ionic conductivities of electronically insulating materials of arbitrary composition, e.g., complex molecular mixtures under such extreme conditions that occur deep inside giant planets.

High pressure-temperature Raman measurements of H2O melting to 22 GPa and 900 K

The melting curve of H(2)O has been measured by in situ Raman spectroscopy in an externally heated diamond anvil cell up to 22 GPa and 900 K. The Raman-active OH-stretching bands and the translational modes of H(2)O as well as optical observations are used to directly and reliably detect melting in ice VII. The observed melting temperatures are higher than previously reported x-ray measurements and significantly lower than recent laser-heating determinations. However, our results are in accord with earlier optical determinations. The frequencies and intensities of the OH-stretching peaks change significantly across the melting line while the translational mode disappears altogether in the liquid phase. The observed OH-stretching bands of liquid water at high pressure are very similar to those obtained in shock-wave Raman measurements.

Phase diagram and electrical conductivity of high energy-density water from density functional theory

The electrical conductivity and structure of water between 2000-70,000 K and 0.1-3.7 g/cm3 is studied by finite temperature density functional theory (DFT). Proton conduction is investigated quantitatively by analyzing diffusion, the pair-correlation function, and Wannier center locations, while the electronic conduction is calculated in the Kubo-Greenwood formalism. The conductivity formulation is valid across three phase transitions (molecular liquid, ionic liquid, superionic, electronic liquid). Above 100 GPa the superionic phase directly borders an electronically conducting fluid, not an insulating ionic fluid, as previously concluded. For simulations of high energy-density systems to be quantitative, we conclude that finite temperature DFT should be employed.

Laser-driven shock experiments on precompressed water: Implications for “icy” giant planets

Laser-driven shock compression of samples precompressed to 1 GPa produces high-pressure-temperature conditions inducing two significant changes in the optical properties of water: the onset of opacity followed by enhanced reflectivity in the initially transparent water. The onset of reflectivity at infrared wavelengths can be interpreted as a semiconductor<-->electronic conductor transition in water, and is found at pressures above approximately 130 GPa for single-shocked samples precompressed to 1 GPa. Our results indicate that conductivity in the deep interior of "icy" giant planets is greater than realized previously because of an additional contribution from electrons.

Bonding in the superionic phase of water

The predicted superionic phase of water is investigated via ab initio molecular dynamics at densities of 2.0--3.0 g/cc (34-115 GPa) along the 2000 K isotherm. We find that extremely rapid (superionic) diffusion of protons occurs in a fluid phase at pressures between 34 and 58 GPa. A transition to a stable body-centered cubic O lattice with superionic proton conductivity is observed between 70 and 75 GPa, a much higher pressure than suggested in prior work. We find that all molecular species at pressures greater than 75 GPa are too short lived to be classified as bound states. Up to 95 GPa, we find a solid superionic phase characterized by covalent O-H bonding. Above 95 GPa, a transient network phase is found characterized by symmetric O-H hydrogen bonding with nearly 50% covalent character. In addition, we describe a metastable superionic phase with quenched O disorder.

Supercritical Water as a Solvent

Water is not restricted to moderate temperatures and low pressures, but can exist up to very high temperatures, far above its critical point at 647 K. In this supercritical regime, water can be gradually compressed from gas-like to liquid-like densities. The resulting dense supercritical states have extraordinary properties which can be tuned by temperature and pressure, and form the basis for innovative technologies. This Review covers the current knowledge of the major properties of supercritical water and its solutions with nonpolar, polar, and ionic compounds, and of the underlying molecular processes.

Dynamic ionization of water under extreme conditions

Raman spectroscopy in a laser heated diamond anvil cell and first principles molecular dynamics simulations have been used to study water in the temperature range 300 to 1500 K and at pressures to 56 GPa. We find a substantial decrease in the intensity of the O-H stretch mode in the liquid phase with pressure, and a change in slope of the melting line at 47 GPa and 1000 K. Consistent with these observations, theoretical calculations show that water beyond 50 GPa is "dynamically ionized" in that it consists of very short-lived (<10 fs) H2O, H3O+, and OH- species, and also that the mobility of the oxygen ions decreases abruptly with pressure, while hydrogen ions remain very mobile. We suggest that this regime corresponds to a superionic state.

Dissociation of water under pressure

The dissociation of water under pressure is investigated with a series of ab initio molecular dynamics simulations at thermodynamic conditions close to those obtained in shock wave experiments. We find that molecular dissociation occurs via a bimolecular process similar to ambient conditions, leading to the formation of short-lived hydronium ions. Up to twofold compression and 2000 K, the oxygen diffusion coefficient is characteristic of a fluid. Our findings do not support models used to estimate the liquid electrical conductivity and interpret Raman spectra that assume the presence of free protons.