Material Properties of Saturn’s Interior from Ab Initio Simulations

We investigate the material properties of a mixture of hydrogen, helium, and oxygen representative of Saturn’s interior at pressure–temperature conditions of a recent Saturn model (see Mankovich & Fortney) with molecular dynamics simulations based on density functional theory. Their model consid...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Astrophysical journal. Supplement series 2023-12, Vol.269 (2), p.47
Main Authors: Preising, Martin, French, Martin, Mankovich, Christopher, Soubiran, François, Redmer, Ronald
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chemical thermodynamics
Density functional theory
Diffusion coefficient
Diffusion layers
Diffusion rate
Electrical conductivity
Electrical resistivity
Helium
Hydrogen
Lorenz number
Material properties
Metallicity
Molecular dynamics
Molecular physics
Oxygen
Planetary interior
Planetary science
Planetary structure
Plasma physics
Quantum-chemical calculations
Saturn
Solar system gas giant planets
Specific heat
Theoretical models
Transport properties
Viscosity
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Summary:We investigate the material properties of a mixture of hydrogen, helium, and oxygen representative of Saturn’s interior at pressure–temperature conditions of a recent Saturn model (see Mankovich & Fortney) with molecular dynamics simulations based on density functional theory. Their model considers the demixing of hydrogen and helium and predicts a He-rich layer above a diluted core. We calculate the thermodynamic and transport properties and discuss the impact on Saturn’s evolution and interior structure. We find a significant impact of the He-rich layer on the specific heat capacity, speed of sound, viscosity, diffusion coefficients, thermal and electrical conductivity, Lorenz number, and magnetic and thermal diffusivities.
ISSN:0067-0049
1538-4365
DOI:10.3847/1538-4365/ad0293