Absence of Metallization in Solid Molecular Hydrogen

Sam Azadi; Thomas D. Kühne

doi:10.1134/s0021364012090020

Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · 1108.6190

Absence of Metallization in Solid Molecular Hydrogen

Sam Azadi·Thomas D. Kühne

View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Being the simplest element with just one electron and proton the electronic structure of the Hydrogen atom is known exactly. However, this does not hold for the complex interplay between them in a solid and in particular not at high pressure that is known to alter the crystal as well as the electronic structure. Back in 1935 Wigner and Huntington predicted that at very high pressure solid molecular hydrogen would dissociate and form an atomic solid that is metallic. In spite of intense research efforts the experimental realization, as well as the theoretical determination of the crystal structure has remained elusive. Here we present a computational study showing that the distorted hexagonal P6$_3$/m structure is the most likely candidate for Phase III of solid hydrogen. We find that the pairing structure is very persistent and insulating over the whole pressure range, which suggests that metallization due to dissociation may precede eventual bandgap closure. Due to the fact that this not only resolve one of major disagreement between theory and experiment, but also excludes the conjectured existence of phonon-driven superconductivity in solid molecular hydrogen, our results involve a complete revision of the zero-temperature phase diagram of Phase III.

Explore related subjects

cond-mat.mtrl-sci cond-mat.other cond-mat.stat-mech physics.chem-ph physics.comp-ph

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeX RIS

Sam Azadi, Thomas D. Kühne. 2012-02-06. Absence of Metallization in Solid Molecular Hydrogen. https://doi.org/10.1134/s0021364012090020

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

Incommensurate structural and magnetic modulations in potassium-rich cryptomelane, K$_x$Mn$_8$O$_{16}$ ($x\approx1.45$)

Cryptomelane is a hollandite-like material consisting of K$^+$ cations in an $α$-MnO$_2$ tunnel-like crystallographic motif. Cryptomelane with stoichiometry K$_x$Mn$_8$O$_{16}$ ($x\approx1.45$) has been synthesized and its magnetic properties investigated using variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity, and neutron powder diffraction. Three distinct transitions at $T_1=184$\,K, $T_2=54.5$\,K, and $T_3=24$\,K are observed. At $T_1$ there is a subtle tetragonal$\rightarrow$monoclinic transition associated with emergence of a set of non-magnetic superstructure peaks indexable to a $\vec{k}_\mathrm{struc}\approx0.74\vec{c^*}$ incommensurate modulation parallel to the $α$-MnO$_2$ tunnels. Our findings are consistent with a relation previously reported in titanate hollandites, that $x\approx2|\vec{k}_\mathrm{struc}|$. Magnetic Bragg peaks emerge below $T_2=54.5$\,K, and their positions indicate an incommensurate modulated magnetic structure. The model consistent with the data is a dual-$\vec{k}_\mathrm{mag}$ structure with a ferromagnetic $|\vec{k}_\mathrm{mag}|=0$ component and an incommensurate $\vec{k}_\mathrm{mag}\approx0.37\vec{c^*}$, with the latter most likely to be helical. The period of oscillation of the incommensurate magnetic component is in line with predictions based on a Heisenberg spin Hamiltonian [Mandal \textit{et al}. Phys. Rev. B 90, 104420 (2014)]. Below $T_3=24$\,K, there is a magnetic transition, which gives rise to a different set of magnetic Bragg peaks indicative of a highly complex magnetic structure.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2026

An anisotropic functional for two-dimensional material systems

Density function theory is the workhorse of modern electronic structure theory. However, its accuracy in practical calculations is limited by the choice of the exchange-correlation potential. In this respect, two-dimensional materials pose a special challenge, as all these materials and their heterostructures have a crucial similarity. The underlying atomic structures are strongly spatially inhomogeneous, implying that current exchange-correlation functionals, that in almost all cases are isotropic, are ill-prepared for an accurate description. We present an anisotropic screened-exchange potential, that remedies this problem and reproduces the band-gap of 2D materials as well as the piecewise linearity of the total energy with fractional occupation number.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2026

Thermally-driven reorientation of the Néel vector in altermagnetic MnTe

Altermagnets are novel magnetic systems that possess a spin-polarized electronic band structure without a net magnetic moment, making them promising for device applications. Hexagonal MnTe, a prototypical altermagnet, arguably exhibits the most properties consistent with theoretical predictions, including an anomalous Hall effect despite a vanishing net magnetization, and altermagnetinduced electronic band splitting. However, fundamental questions remain, including why some effects only appear significantly below the magnetic ordering temperature. Here, we resolve this discrepancy by revealing a reorientation of the Néel vector in single-crystalline MnTe. The Néel vector points 30° from the a-axis at low $T$, before aligning directly with the a-axis around $T\simeq 260$ K. We attribute this to single-ion anisotropy, which depends on temperature-dependent lattice parameters. We obtained these results using muon-spin spectroscopy, magnetization measurements, and X-ray diffraction; we show that the findings are consistent with neutron diffraction. Manipulating this effect, for example through strain, could unlock sensitive electronic detection schemes for external stimuli, paving the way for functional altermagnetic devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗