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Structural complexity in ramp-compressed sodium to 480 GPa

Author

Listed:
  • Danae N. Polsin

    (University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics
    University of Rochester)

  • Amy Lazicki

    (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)

  • Xuchen Gong

    (University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics
    University of Rochester)

  • Stephen J. Burns

    (University of Rochester)

  • Federica Coppari

    (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)

  • Linda E. Hansen

    (University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics
    University of Rochester)

  • Brian J. Henderson

    (University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics
    University of Rochester)

  • Margaret F. Huff

    (University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics
    University of Rochester)

  • Malcolm I. McMahon

    (The University of Edinburgh)

  • Marius Millot

    (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)

  • Reetam Paul

    (University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics
    University of Rochester)

  • Raymond F. Smith

    (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)

  • Jon H. Eggert

    (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)

  • Gilbert W. Collins

    (University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics
    University of Rochester
    University of Rochester)

  • J. Ryan Rygg

    (University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics
    University of Rochester
    University of Rochester)

Abstract

The properties of all materials at one atmosphere of pressure are controlled by the configurations of their valence electrons. At extreme pressures, neighboring atoms approach so close that core-electron orbitals overlap, and theory predicts the emergence of unusual quantum behavior. We ramp-compress monovalent elemental sodium, a prototypical metal at ambient conditions, to nearly 500 GPa (5 million atmospheres). The 7-fold increase of density brings the interatomic distance to 1.74 Å well within the initial 2.03 Å of the Na+ ionic diameter, and squeezes the valence electrons into the interstitial voids suggesting the formation of an electride phase. The laser-driven compression results in pressure-driven melting and recrystallization in a billionth of a second. In situ x-ray diffraction reveals a series of unexpected phase transitions upon recrystallization, and optical reflectivity measurements show a precipitous decrease throughout the liquid and solid phases, where the liquid is predicted to have electronic localization. These data reveal the presence of a rich, temperature-driven polymorphism where core electron overlap is thought to stabilize the formation of peculiar electride states.

Suggested Citation

  • Danae N. Polsin & Amy Lazicki & Xuchen Gong & Stephen J. Burns & Federica Coppari & Linda E. Hansen & Brian J. Henderson & Margaret F. Huff & Malcolm I. McMahon & Marius Millot & Reetam Paul & Raymond, 2022. "Structural complexity in ramp-compressed sodium to 480 GPa," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-29813-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29813-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. M. Hanfland & K. Syassen & N. E. Christensen & D. L. Novikov, 2000. "New high-pressure phases of lithium," Nature, Nature, vol. 408(6809), pages 174-178, November.
    2. Yanming Ma & Mikhail Eremets & Artem R. Oganov & Yu Xie & Ivan Trojan & Sergey Medvedev & Andriy O. Lyakhov & Mario Valle & Vitali Prakapenka, 2009. "Transparent dense sodium," Nature, Nature, vol. 458(7235), pages 182-185, March.
    3. Jean-Yves Raty & Eric Schwegler & Stanimir A. Bonev, 2007. "Electronic and structural transitions in dense liquid sodium," Nature, Nature, vol. 449(7161), pages 448-451, September.
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