Ab initio Equation of State data for hydrogen, helium, and water and the internal structure of Jupiter

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new quantum molecular dynamics-based equation of state for hydrogen, helium, and water, significantly improving models of Jupiter's internal structure by accounting for mixing effects and high-pressure conditions.

Contribution

The study provides a comprehensive EOS data table for key planetary materials, enhancing the accuracy of giant planet interior models with advanced simulation techniques.

Findings

Mixing effects of helium in hydrogen significantly alter compressibility.

The new EOS data impacts Jupiter's internal structure predictions.

Comparison shows improved agreement with observational data.

Abstract

The equation of state of hydrogen, helium, and water effects interior structure models of giant planets significantly. We present a new equation of state data table, LM-REOS, generated by large scale quantum molecular dynamics simulations for hydrogen, helium, and water in the warm dense matter regime, i.e.for megabar pressures and temperatures of several thousand Kelvin, and by advanced chemical methods in the complementary regions. The influence of LM-REOS on the structure of Jupiter is investigated and compared with state-of-the-art results within a standard three-layer model consistent with astrophysical observations of Jupiter. Our new Jupiter models predict an important impact of mixing effects of helium in hydrogen with respect to an altered compressibility and immiscibility.