A massive core in jupiter predicted from first-principles simulations

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DOI	Resolve DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/594364
Author	Search for: Militzer, B.; Search for: Hubbard, W. B.; Search for: Vorberger, J.; Search for: Tamblyn, I.; Search for: Bonev, S. A.
Format	Text, Article
Abstract	Hydrogen-helium mixtures at conditions of Jupiter's interior are studied with first-principles computer simulations. The resulting equation of state (EOS) implies that Jupiter possesses a central core of 14-18 Earth masses of heavier elements, a result that supports core accretion as the standard model for the formation of hydrogen-rich giant planets. Our nominal model has about 4 Earth masses of planetary ices in the H-He-rich mantle, a result that is, within a modeling uncertainty of 6 Earth masses, consistent with abundances measured by the 1995 Galileo entry probe mission, suggesting that the composition found by the probe may be representative of the entire planet. Interior models derived from this first-principles EOS do not give a match to Jupiter's gravity moment J4 unless one invokes interior differential rotation, implying that Jovian interior dynamics has an observable effect on the high-order gravity field.
Publication date	2008-11-20
Publisher	IOP Publishing
In	The Astrophysical Journal 688, no. 1: L45–L48.
Language	English
Peer reviewed	Yes
NRC publication	This is a non-NRC publication "Non-NRC publications" are publications authored by NRC employees prior to their employment by NRC.
NPARC number	23003170
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Record identifier	ca988849-0e6a-424c-b968-75bc77faf268
Record created	2018-05-03
Record modified	2020-06-03

Date modified:: 2026-02-18