The phases of deuterium at extreme densities

Abstract

We consider deuterium compressed to higher than atomic, but lower than nuclear densities. At such densities deuterium is a superconducting quantum liquid. Generically, two superconducting phases compete, a "ferromagnetic" and a "nematic" one. We provide a power counting argument suggesting that the dominant interactions in the deuteron liquid are perturbative (but screened) Coulomb interactions. At very high densities the ground state is determined by very small nuclear interaction effects that probably favor the ferromagnetic phase. At lower densities the symmetry of the theory is effectively enhanced to SU (3), and the quantum liquid enters a novel phase, neither ferromagnetic nor nematic. Our results can serve as a starting point for investigations of the phase dynamics of deuteron liquids, as well as exploration of the stability and dynamics of the rich variety of topological objects that may occur in phases of the deuteron quantum liquid, which range from Alice strings to spin skyrmions to Z2 vortices.

Search for Superconductivity in Ultra-dense Deuterium D(−1) at Room Temperature: Depletion of D(−1) at Field Strength >0.05 T

“…In both cases it is apparent that only a superconductive cluster can lift in this relatively weak magnetic field. In the limit of being at the magnet surface (z = 1.5 mm), the radius of the current loop r becomes 1.3 pm in the theoretical dipole field used for (6). The field strength used at the surface of the magnet of 0.27 T was found from the fitting to the expression in (7).…”

“…A deuterium phase at greater than atomic densities has been predicted by Berezhiani et al [5] to be a quantum liquid showing both superfluid and superconducting properties. The different phases of this type of material have been discussed by Bedaque et al [6]. The quantum mechanical basis for D(−1) was further discussed by Winterberg [7,8], suggesting the short-distance bonding of deuterons by exchange forces.…”

Topological defects in mixtures of superconducting condensates with different charges

“…One example is liquid metallic deuterium where deuteron is a charge-1 boson which can Bose condense and coexist with the Cooper pairs of electrons and/or protons. 2,[4][5][6] Cooper pairs carry twice the charge of their constituent fermion, while a Bose-Einstein condensate of deuterons carries only once the charge of its (boson) constituent. This system is currently a subject of vigorous experimental pursuit.…”

Superfluid ultra-dense deuterium D(−1) on polymer surfaces: Structure and density changes at a polymer-metal boundary

“…2 D 12 , are probably promoted by the combination of chain clusters to more complex forms. There exist predictions 6,7 of several different forms of condensed deuterium, both superfluid and superconductive and also transitions between such forms of deuterium. Of course, such predictions often assume that the pressure will be an important parameter for the properties of the condensed material, which is not the case for the D(À1) material.…”

“…A dense deuterium phase has been predicted by Berezhiani et al 5 to be a quantum liquid showing both superfluid and superconducting properties. Different phases of this type of material have been discussed by Babaev et al 6 and by Bedaque et al 7 The quantum mechanical background for D(À1) was discussed by Winterberg. 8,9 The special features of the Coulomb explosion (CE) in D(À1) indicates that this material is superfluid at room temperature.…”