Computer simulations of supercooled liquid hydrogen mixtures and the possible crystallization slowdown

TL;DR

This study uses computer simulations to investigate supercooled liquid hydrogen mixtures, finding no slowdown in crystallization or demixing, contrary to some expectations about metastable states.

Contribution

It provides the first theoretical analysis of supercooled parahydrogen and orthodeuterium mixtures, showing they do not exhibit reduced crystallization propensity.

Findings

No observed slowdown in crystallization compared to pure parahydrogen

No demixing as a precursor to crystallization

Mixtures behave similarly to pure liquid parahydrogen

Abstract

Metastable liquid mixtures of parahydrogen and orthodeuterium are studied theoretically by means of computer simulations. No reduced propensity of the mixture to undergo crystallization is observed, compared to that of pure liquid parahydrogen. Demixing of the two species as a precursor of crystallization is not observed either.