Shear modulus collapse of lattices at high pressure

摘要

It is shown that metals would be liquid at high pressure at absolute zero temperature due to the vanishing of the shear modulus. The lowest shear modulus collapse pressures PG occur for low-Z metals. The shear modulus collapse of the lattice for Li, Be, and B (Z < 6) may occur at pressure P < 3 Mbar, i.e. at pressures which can be distinguished now by the diamond-anvil technique. Our calculations show that hydrogen transforms to liquid metal at the molecular-monatomic transition.