Implications of Shock Wave Experiments with Precompressed Materials for Giant Planet Interiors

TL;DR

This study uses molecular dynamics simulations to determine how precompression in shock wave experiments can help probe the interior structure of giant planets like Jupiter, identifying the required precompression levels for different depths.

Contribution

It provides a quantitative analysis of the precompression levels needed to explore various depths within giant planet atmospheres using shock wave experiments.

Findings

Precompression of 0.1 GPa probes 2.5% of Jupiter's envelope.

Precompression of 1.0 GPa probes 5.9% of Jupiter's envelope.

Precompression of 10-100 GPa probes 18-63% of Jupiter's envelope.

Abstract

This work uses density functional molecular dynamics simulations of fluid helium at high pressure to examine how shock wave experiments with precompressed samples can help characterizing the interior of giant planets. In particular, we analyze how large of a precompression is needed to probe a certain depth in a planet's gas envelope. We find that precompressions of up to 0.1, 1.0, 10, or 100 GPa are needed to characterized 2.5, 5.9, 18, to 63% of Jupiter's envelope by mass.