Thomas-Fermi model yields condensed phase of molecular metallic oxygen

TL;DR

Using the Thomas-Fermi approximation, the study predicts a stable metallic phase of molecular oxygen with lower energy than the insulator phase, and identifies the energy barrier and conditions for phase transition.

Contribution

The paper demonstrates that the Thomas-Fermi model can predict a condensed metallic phase of oxygen and details the energy barrier and transition conditions.

Findings

Metallic phase is 496 kJ/mol more stable than insulator phase.

Energy barrier for transition is 1165 kJ/mol.

Electromagnetic irradiation of 12.071 eV can induce the phase transition.

Abstract

Calculations, performed in Thomas-Fermi approximation, show that the energy of a condensed phase of molecular metallic oxygen is lower by 496 kJ/mol than that of an insulator oxygen phase. The insulator phase is separated from a metallic one by energetic barrier of 1165 kJ/mol. This barrier could be overcome by means of electromagnetic irradiation with quantum energy of 12.071 eV or a bit higher. During such a transition the amount of energy equal to 496 kJ/mol is released. It should be extracted from a sample to secure the existence of a metallic phase.