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Summary: 10.1098/rsta.2002.0992
The ab initio simulation of the Earth's core
By D. A l f µe1;2
, M. J. Gillan2
, L. V o ·c a d l o1
,
J. Brodholt1
an d G. D. Price1
1Research School of Geological and Geophysical Sciences, Birkbeck and
University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
2
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London,
Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
Published online 25 April 2002
The Earth has a liquid outer and solid inner core. It is predominantly composed of
Fe, alloyed with small amounts of light elements, such as S, O and Si. The detailed
chemical and thermal structure of the core is poorly constrained, and it is di¯ -
cult to perform experiments to establish the properties of core-forming phases at
the pressures (ca. 300 GPa) and temperatures (ca. 5000{6000 K) to be found in the
core. Here we present some major advances that have been made in using quantum
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