Giant planet interiors studied with ab initio computer simulations

Dr. Militzer will briefly review the interior structure of different types of planets and discuss how it is affected by the miscibility of various planetary materials. Results from recent ab initiocomputer simulations will be presented that focus on the miscibility properties of four systems: hydrogen-helium mixtures in gas giant planets, hydrogen-water mixtures in ice giants, silicate-iron mixtures in the interiors of terrestrial planets.

Finally Dr. Militzer will discuss his recent model of Jupiter's interior that he and his team are putting together before NASA's Juno spacecraft inserts into orbit about this planet next year.

Speaker: Burkhard Militzer, UC Berkeley