Deuterium Enrichment of Metallic Hydrogen

Author:
  • WHW. B. Hubbard
    W. B. Hubbard

Abstract
If there is a first-order phase transition between molecular and metallic hydrogen in the liquid state, a simple statistical-mechanics calculation shows that the metallic phase will be slightly enriched in deuterium. The observed atmospheric deuterium abundance in the giant planets will be affected by at most 15 percent. Subject headings: abundances, planetary - equation of state - interiors, planetary