Under normal conditions, it is seen that matter takes four different states. They form solid, liquid, gas and plasma. This happens very rarely on Earth, although other states of matter seem to exist in extreme cases. That; Depending on the conditions, it exists in three different structures as ice, liquid or vapor. But scientists have achieved the “superionic ice” state of matter by using diamonds and X-rays to recreate conditions deep within planets.
Scientists think that superionic ice was formed by extreme temperatures and pressures, like those deep within Neptune and Uranus. Previous studies have also succeeded in obtaining this substance for a short time. But according to a new study published in the journal Nature Physics, scientists from the University of Chicago were able to reliably form and study superionic ice over a long period of time.
“Achieving superionic ice was a surprise”
University of Chicago researcher Vitali Prakapenka said that thanks to a few powerful tools, they were able to accurately map the properties of this superionic ice, which forms a new phase of matter. Researcher Prakapenka said at the press conference, “No one thought this phase would be successful, which came as a surprise. ” said.
Prakapenka and colleagues continue their work at the Argonne National Laboratory with an accelerator Advanced Photon Source that produces X-rays at close to the speed of light. In the study, electrons were sandwiched between two diamonds (the hardest substance on earth) to mimic the intense pressure. Then a laser beam was sent to the diamonds to heat the material, this accelerator created a very strong pressure of 20 gigapascals. With the reduction of pressure, a completely new structure, “superionic ice” appeared.
“Imagine a lattice at the corners of a cube in which oxygen atoms are bound together by hydrogen. When this superionic ice transforms, the lattice expands and the hydrogen atoms are allowed to move while the position of the oxygen atoms remains fixed. Superionic ice acts like a solid oxygen lattice holding hydrogen atoms floating in the ocean. ” said. Underlining that all of the chemical and physical properties of superionic ice have not yet been discovered, Prakapenka said, “This substance behaves like a fundamentally new material, but it may be different from what we thought.”
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