Theoretical Model for the High-Pressure Melting Process of MgO with the B1 Structure

Abstract

MgO is an abundant mineral in the rocky mantle of terrestrial planets, but its melting behaviors remain enigmatic. Here we introduce a simple theoretical model to investigate the B1-liquid transition of MgO up to 370 GPa. Vibrational free energies of B1-MgO are fully computed by the moment recurrence technique in quantum statistical physics. On that basis, we associate the melting temperature with the isothermal bulk modulus via the work-heat equivalence principle. This strategy allows us to quantitatively explain recent experimental data. Our numerical analyses would yield insights into planetary dynamics and evolution.

accepted for publication in Vacuum 2021