On "Novel attractive forces" between ions in quantum plasmas -- failure of linearized quantum hydrodynamics

TL;DR

This paper critically examines claims of a new attractive force between ions in quantum plasmas, demonstrating through ab initio calculations that previous predictions were incorrect due to misuse of linearized quantum hydrodynamics.

Contribution

The study refutes prior claims of novel attractive forces in quantum plasmas by applying accurate density functional theory calculations.

Findings

Previous predictions of attractive forces are invalid

Linearized quantum hydrodynamics was misapplied in earlier work

Ab initio calculations show no such attractive forces

Abstract

In a recent letter [P.K. Shukla and B. Eliasson, Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 165007 (2012)] the discovery of a new attractive force between protons in a hydrogen plasma was reported that would be responsible for the formation of molecules and of a proton lattice. Here we show, based on ab initio density functional theory calculations, that these predictions are wrong and caused by using linearized quantum hydrodynamics beyond the limits of its applicability.