Helium and Neon in the Hydrogen-rich Outer Planets

• Applicant: Dr. Nadine Nettelmann
• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy ; Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 545532085

This project serves to improve our understanding of the solar system and the elements it is primarily made of by combining planetary modeling and high-pressure physics. We aim to investigate the miscibility between hydrogen and helium at the deep interior conditions of the Outer Planets using numerical DFT-MD simulations and reflectivity computations for comparison to experimental available and upcoming data. We will also investigate the transport of He, Ne, and Ar through stable layers in order to predict their atmospheric abundances. Those are indicative of the early solar system conditions and will be observable by the planned NASA Uranus Probe Mission. Jupiter is used as a test case. We will construct structure models for the Outer Planets constrained by the obtained results on H/He/Ne miscibility in water-rich environment and observational data including gravity, from which there is indication of stable stratification in the Outer Planets. The inferred interior compositions influence the electrical conductivity especially in Saturn and the ice giants Uranus and Neptune. We aim to compute this parameter as input for Saturn magnetic field models, noting that the atmosphere-interor link for Jupiter and the interior-magnetic field link for Saturn still await consistent models. Our planet models will provide essential contributions to the question what potential atmospheric noble gas measurements (He,Ne,Ar) can tell us about the interior of the ice giants, given that we already have such constraints for Jupiter.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: France
• Partner Organisation: Agence Nationale de la Recherche / The French National Research Agency
• Cooperation Partners: Dr. Mandy Bethkenhagen; Dr. Francois Soubiran