All entries for Wednesday 18 February 2009

February 18, 2009

Diamonds are forever

Writing about web page http://www.sandia.gov/news/resources/releases/2009/neptune.html

Researchers in New Mexico at Sandia Labs have achieved triple point at which solid diamond, liquid carbon and all illusive (until now) solid carbon ( bc8 ). the study of this phenomenon has implications in the astrophysics and first in the queue is Neptune. Its atmospheric pressure essentially creates conditions in which methane (CH4) decomposes into its components, leaving liquid carbon to conduct electricity. therefore, this affects the way in which magnetic field of the planet is generated and transformed with subsequent creation and growth of new areas of liquid carbon.

In other related news, carbon films are used in detection of particles as the result of interaction between solar winds and interstellar space. more here

: 18 Feb 2009 16:58 | Tags: Astrophysics Diamond Neptune Sandia Labs Solar Wind | Comments (0) | Close comments | Report a problem