Iron hydride enters an exotic state of matter under Earth's inner-core conditions
Earth's inner core, composed primarily of iron with a small percentage of light elements, may enter a superionic state at extreme pressure and temperature, according to experimental results from researchers at Science Tokyo.
Earth's inner core, composed primarily of iron with a small percentage of light elements, may enter a superionic state at extreme pressure and temperature, according to experimental results from researchers at Science Tokyo.
The short version
- Using laser-heated and electrically wired diamond-anvil cells, the researchers identified experimental signatures of superionic iron hydride at conditions relevant to Earth's core.
- These findings provide new insights into the composition and dynamics of Earth's deep interior.
- This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies .
What happened
In this state, iron atoms remain localized around their lattice sites, while lighter elements such as hydrogen, oxygen and carbon move through the lattice almost like a liquid. In addition to the rapid movement of light elements, the resulting shear softening of the alloy is also important in geoscience, as it may help explain why seismic shear waves travel more slowly through Earth's inner core.
Why it matters
However, this idea has so far been supported mainly by molecular dynamics simulations, with no direct experimental evidence.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at Phys.org via the links above and below.