Metallization and molecular dissociation of dense fluid nitrogen
Abstract
Diatomic nitrogen is an archetypal molecular system known for its exceptional stability and complex behavior at high pressures and temperatures, including rich solid polymorphism, formation of energetic states, and an insulator-to-metal transformation coupled to a change in chemical bonding. However, the thermobaric conditions of the fluid molecular–polymer phase boundary and associated metallization have not been experimentally established. Here, by applying dynamic laser heating of compressed nitrogen and using fast optical spectroscopy to study electronic properties, we observe a transformation from insulating (molecular) to conducting dense fluid nitrogen at temperatures that decrease with pressure and establish that metallization, and presumably fluid polymerization, occurs above 125 GPa at 2500 K. Our observations create a better understanding of the interplay between molecular dissociation, melting, and metallization revealing features that are common in simple molecular systems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jul 06, 2018
- Source ID
- 10.1038/s41467-018-05011-z
Entities
People
- Alexander Goncharov
- Fuhai Su
- Mohammad F. Mahmood
- Nicholas Holtgrewe
- R. Stewart Mcwilliams
- Sergey Lobanov
- Shuqing Jiang
Organizations
- Army Research Office
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council