Project description
Pinpointing when hydrogen becomes metallic
The lightest element in the periodic table, hydrogen is the most abundant chemical substance in the universe. Metallic hydrogen is found deep within Jupiter. Eighty years ago, scientists predicted this metallic state could also be realised at lower temperatures. With advances in quantum mechanics, metallic hydrogen is expected to exhibit a whole host of fascinating properties at high pressure. The EU-funded MetElOne project will conduct a novel hydrogen research programme to shed light on one of the most fundamental unsolved problems in condensed matter physics: the metallisation of element one. Specifically, it will explore the phase diagram and pinpoint the pressure–temperature conditions at which hydrogen becomes metallic in the solid and fluid states.
Objective
Element number one, hydrogen, is the simplest and most abundant element in the universe. The relative abundance is reflected in the gas giant Jupiter, where under extreme pressures and temperatures, hydrogen exists in a dense metallic fluid state. In 1935, it was predicted that such a metallic state could also be realised at considerably lower temperatures, whereby the quantum molecular solid would dissociate under compression into an atomic metal. With the development of modern quantum mechanics, this metallic state of hydrogen is now expected to exhibit a whole host of fascinating properties at high pressure, from room temperature superconductivity, to a novel superfluid liquid ground state. The pursuit of these phenomena has been the principal scientific driver in high-pressure research and inspires many from interdisciplinary fields of science. In the eight decades that have passed since the initial prediction, there has been a vast amount of interesting phenomena discovered experimentally. Breakthroughs in diamond anvil experiments in the past five years have led to the discovery of two novel solid phases, suggesting that we are tantalizingly close to the metallization conditions, but at the limit of what can be currently achieved. For now, the metallic state remains elusive. I propose a novel hydrogen research program that will combine complex diamond sculpting, time resolved spectroscopy and novel fast compression techniques to extend the pressures achievable in static compression experiments. Using these state-of-the art diagnostics, I will explore the phase diagram and pinpoint the P-T conditions at which hydrogen becomes metallic in the solid and fluid states. With my experience in ultra-high pressure studies of hydrogen, together with resources unmatched anywhere else, the project promises to resolve many outstanding questions surrounding one of the most fundamental unsolved problems in condensed matter physics: the metallization of element one.
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.
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
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.
-
H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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.
ERC-STG - Starting Grant
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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) ERC-2020-STG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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.
EH8 9YL Edinburgh
United Kingdom
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.