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Superionic iron alloys and their seismic velocities in Earth's inner core | |
Yu He![]() ![]() | |
2022 | |
Source Publication | Nature
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Volume | 602Pages:258–262 |
Abstract | Earth’s inner core (IC) is less dense than pure iron, indicating the existence of light elements within it1. Silicon, sulfur, carbon, oxygen and hydrogen have been suggested to be the candidates2,3, and the properties of iron–light-element alloys have been studied to constrain the IC composition4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19. Light elements have a substantial influence on the seismic velocities4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13, the melting temperatures14,15,16,17 and the thermal conductivities18,19 of iron alloys. However, the state of the light elements in the IC is rarely considered. Here, using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, we find that hydrogen, oxygen and carbon in hexagonal close-packed iron transform to a superionic state under the IC conditions, showing high diffusion coefficients like a liquid. This suggests that the IC can be in a superionic state rather than a normal solid state. The liquid-like light elements lead to a substantial reduction in the seismic velocities, which approach the seismological observations of the IC20,21. The substantial decrease in shear-wave velocity provides an explanation for the soft IC21. In addition, the light-element convection has a potential influence on the IC seismological structure and magnetic field. |
DOI | 10.1038/s41586-021-04361-x |
URL | 查看原文 |
Indexed By | SCI |
Language | 英语 |
Citation statistics | |
Document Type | 期刊论文 |
Identifier | http://ir.gyig.ac.cn/handle/42920512-1/13514 |
Collection | 地球内部物质高温高压实验室 地球深部物质与流体作用地球化学研究室 |
Affiliation | 1.Key Laboratory of High-Temperature and High-Pressure Study of the Earth’s Interior, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, China 2.Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Shanghai, China 3.University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China Shichuan Sun |
Recommended Citation GB/T 7714 | Yu He,Shichuan Sun,Duck Young Kim,et al. Superionic iron alloys and their seismic velocities in Earth's inner core[J]. Nature,2022,602:258–262. |
APA | Yu He,Shichuan Sun,Duck Young Kim,Bo Gyu Jang,Heping Li,&Ho-kwang Mao.(2022).Superionic iron alloys and their seismic velocities in Earth's inner core.Nature,602,258–262. |
MLA | Yu He,et al."Superionic iron alloys and their seismic velocities in Earth's inner core".Nature 602(2022):258–262. |
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Superionic iron allo(6265KB) | 期刊论文 | 作者接受稿 | 开放获取 | CC BY-NC-SA | View Application Full Text |
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