Diamond Rain on Icy Planets: New Study Reveals Surprising Findings and Implications

Sunday - January 21 2024, 02:20 UTC - 10 months ago

New study reveals surprising findings about 'diamond rain' on icy planets like Neptune and Uranus, showing formation occurs at lower pressures and temperatures than previously believed. Presence of oxygen is crucial for diamond formation and could impact unusual magnetic fields and internal dynamics of these planets. These results have implications for smaller exoplanets as well and provide insight into the internal composition and processes of these enigmatic worlds.

A new study, led by researchers from the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, sheds light on the formation of diamonds on icy planets such as Neptune and Uranus. Published in Nature Astronomy, the results reveal surprising findings and implications for the unusual magnetic fields of these planets.

Previous studies have confirmed that diamonds can form on icy planets due to the extreme conditions found in their interiors - high pressures and temperatures that are generated by shock compressing hydrocarbons using high-power lasers. However, this new experiment, conducted at the European X-ray free-electron laser in Germany, used a different approach to study the formation of diamonds over longer timescales.

The team subjected a plastic film made from the hydrocarbon compound polystyrene to extreme pressures by squeezing it between two diamonds using a 'diamond anvil cell'. With the aid of multiple high-energy X-ray shots, the sample was heated to more than 2200 degrees Celsius, providing a clear view of the diamond formation process. To the researchers' surprise, diamonds started to form at much lower pressures - just 3 million atmospheres, which is five times less than previously believed. This suggests that diamond formation on icy planets may be more common than previously thought.

The presence of oxygen was also found to be crucial for diamond formation, making it more likely to occur at lower pressures and temperatures. This has important implications for the magnetic fields of Neptune and Uranus, which have been a mystery to scientists for many years. The results suggest that the 'diamond rain' on these planets could cause movements within the electrically conductive ices found in their mantles, influencing their magnetic fields and dynamics. This phenomenon could also occur on smaller exoplanets with similar conditions.

While the exact amount of diamonds formed on these planets is still unknown, the study provides new insights into their internal composition and processes. Diamonds, as a dense and conductive material, could have a significant impact on the properties and composition of icy planets, influencing their internal dynamics and magnetic fields. This study opens up new avenues for understanding the mysterious icy planets in our solar system and beyond.