The Equation of State of MH-III: a possible deep CH$_4$ reservoir in Titan, Super-Titan exoplanets and moons

TL;DR

This study uses advanced simulations to explore the properties of MH-III, a methane-filled ice phase, and its potential role as a deep methane reservoir in Titan and super-Titan exoplanets, affecting their internal dynamics and outgassing.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed thermodynamic characterization of MH-III at relevant P-T conditions using ab initio methods, and assesses its stability and implications for Titan's interior and methane transport.

Findings

MH-III is less dense than liquid water in the studied P-T range.

Titan's MOI influences MH-III stability, affecting methane outgassing.

MH-III may exist as a thin shell in Titan's core, impacting internal heating.

Abstract

We investigate the thermal equation of state, bulk modulus, thermal expansion coefficient, and heat capacity of MH-III (CH$_4$ filled-ice Ih), needed for the study of CH$_4$ transport and outgassing for the case of Titan and super-Titans. We employ density functional theory and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations in the generalized-gradient approximation with a van der Waals functional. We examine the finite temperature range of $300$K-$500$K and pressures between $2$GPa-$7$GPa. We find that in this P-T range MH-III is less dense than liquid water. There is uncertainty in the normalized moment of inertia (MOI) of Titan; it is estimated to be in the range of $0.33-0.34$. If Titan's MOI is $0.34$, MH-III is not stable at present in Titan's interior, yielding an easier path for the outgassing of CH$_4$. However, for an MOI of $0.33$, MH-III is thermodynamically stable at the bottom of a ice-rock internal layer capable of storing CH$_4$. For rock mass fractions $\lessapprox 0.2$ upwelling melt is likely hot enough to dissociate MH-III along its path. For super-Titans considering a mixture of MH-III and ice VII, melt is always positively buoyant if the H$_2$O:CH$_4$ mole fraction is $>5.5$. Our thermal evolution model shows that MH-III may be present today in Titan's core, confined to a thin ($\approx 10$km) outer shell. We find that the heat capacity of MH-III is higher than measured values for pure water-ice, larger than heat capacity often adopted for ice-rock mixtures with implications for internal heating.