Project description
Modelling and simulations could shed new light on the interior of ice giant planets
Uranus and Neptune are the two most distant known major planets in our solar system. The increasing number of detected exoplanets with similar masses emphasises the need to better understand the interior structure, magnetic fields and thermal evolution of these icy worlds. The EU-funded xICE project will conduct molecular dynamics simulations on multiple scales to derive more information about the thermal boundary layers from which heat escapes from the deep interior into space. The project will begin by exploring the thermal interfaces between the inner mantle and the core of an ice planet on an atomic level. The results will serve as valuable input for future exploration missions to Uranus and Neptune undertaken by ESA and NASA.
Objective
The ice giant planets Uranus and Neptune are believed to play a crucial role in the formation process of our Solar System and are prototypical for hundreds of exoplanets, so-called mini-Neptunes, which are discovered at ever increasing speed thanks to planet-hunting missions like Kepler, TESS, and PLATO. Modeling the interior structure, magnetic dynamo, and thermal evolution of Uranus and Neptune has proven very challenging relying only on the Voyager 2 flyby data from the 1980s and ground-based observations. The key to improve these models is to investigate interfaces and thermal boundaries resulting from the properties of the material in their deep interiors. Hence, we perform molecular dynamics simulations on multiple scales to derive additional modeling constraints, which are experimentally challenging to obtain or even inaccessible.
We use accurate ab initio simulations to calculate a new equation of state to constrain the rock/ice ratio in planetary interior models. Subsequently, we fit potentials to the ab initio data to investigate up to 1 million atoms using classical molecular dynamics. For the first time, we are able to explore interfaces between the inner mantle and the core of an ice giant planet on a atomic level. The resulting thermal and transport properties will be used as essential inputs for novel interior structure and magnetic dynamo models for ice giant planets; particularly those in our Solar System. The project results will enhance the fellow's career prospects, make a significant contribution to the science excellence in Europe, and especially strengthen the science case for future Uranus and Neptune missions by ESA and NASA.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
69342 Lyon
France
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.