Shock Compression of Solid Hydrogen

Hydrogen is the most abundant material in the universe and is also the simplest element. Any theory that attempts a description of physics at the quantum level must account for its behavior in a very wide range of physical environments.

Under high pressure in particular it has been theoretically predicted to exist in a metallic form and furthermore to possess remarkable properties such as high-temperature superconductivity and a liquid ground state. The behavior of hydrogen under extreme conditions is also vital to planetary science especially in the case of Jupiter and also many of the extrasolar planets thus far discovered. Furthermore, it is highly likely that future technological applications of hydrogen (e.g. to energy storage) will benefit from an improved and detailed understanding of its fundamental nature.

The study of hydrogen under extreme conditions remains experimentally very challenging. Here we illustrate a technique that involves the laser shock loading of hydrogen precompressed in the diamond anvil cell. We employ an ultrafast interferometric approach for probing the shocked material, which, because of its optical nature, is inherently sensitive to phase changes that will strongly affect optical properties e.g. metallization. Also, by precompressing the material we can change the initial density over a very wide range (corresponding to pressures of up to potentially a million atmospheres) and thus, in combination with controlled shock compression, have great flexibility to tune the final state conditions to coincide with the relevant region of the phase diagram. Finally, our inherently ultrahigh time resolution (of order picoseconds), allows us to directly measure shock parameters of the very fast shock wave (e.g. particle and shock velocities), and also means that we can assign time scales to phase transitions that may also be extremely fast.

[theultimatereductionist]

I'm buying my fiance a liquid metallic hydrogen ring, rather than a diamond ring. Much more valuable.

[Acelryss]

Hi this was 5 years ago. Is there any update about this. Is still possible to make mertal from Hydrogen?

[jimwong]

What are the frequency of the shock and resulting pressure?  Thanks

[lasignora]

 I am curious to know if you will lose mass in exchange for time?

[CyberSage]

Why diamonds are used not some kind of metals?

[arbab]

Look at other properties of conductors (metals) at

[NickNinjaOwnedU]

Isn't this dangerous if you don't know what kind of change the hydrogen will go through at the end? I mean, it's hydrogen! I think this could end badly

[JuliusJuukulius]

Wouldn't that cause a nuke because of fusion?

[johnnyllooddte]

its closer to a billion dollar an great govt welfare program, , , , if you can get it..
best fuel ever