Helium-Iron Compounds at Terapascal Pressures

Bartomeu Monserrat, Miguel Martinez-Canales, Richard J. Needs, Chris J. Pickard

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We investigate the binary phase diagram of helium and iron using first-principles calculations. We find that helium, which is a noble gas and inert at ambient conditions, forms stable crystalline compounds with iron at terapascal pressures. A FeHe compound becomes stable above 4 TPa, and a FeHe2 compound above 12 TPa. Melting is investigated using molecular dynamics simulations, and a superionic phase with sublattice melting of the helium atoms is predicted. We discuss the implications of our predicted helium-iron phase diagram for interiors of giant (exo)planets and white dwarf stars.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)015301
Number of pages5
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume121
Issue number01
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 Jul 2018

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