Molecular dissociation in hot, dense hydrogen

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1996 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.76.1240· OSTI ID:284528

Magro, W R; Ceperley, D M; Pierleoni, C; Bernu, B ^[1]

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1. Theory Center and Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 (United States)

We present a path-integral Monte Carlo study of dissociation in dense hydrogen (1.75{le}{ital r}{sub {ital s}}{le}2.2, with {ital r}{sub {ital s}} the Wigner sphere radius). As the temperature is lowered from 10{sup 5} to 5000 K, a molecular hydrogen gas forms spontaneously from a neutral system of protons and electrons. At high density, {ital r}{sub {ital s}}{lt}2.0, thermally activated dissociation is accompanied by decreasing pressure, signaling the presence of a first order transition and critical point. The decrease in electron kinetic energy during dissociation is responsible for the pressure decrease and transition. At lower density the phase transition disappears. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}

• OSTI ID: 284528
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 76; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
CRITICAL POINTS
DENSITY
DISSOCIATION
ELECTRONS
FEYNMAN PATH INTEGRAL
GASES
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN MOLECULES
KINETIC ENERGY
MONTE CARLO METHOD
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PRESSURE
PROTONS