Metallic Hydrogen: A Liquid Superconductor?

In this talk, results from density-functional theory and molecular dynamics to simulate dense metallic liquid hydrogen will be presented. Simulations were performed at 500 K over the pressure range 386.8(4)--883.7(3) GPa. Of particular interest is the possible superconductivity of this state. The superconducting transition temperature is calculated to be 308(6) K at 386.8 GPa and increasing to a maximum of 372(2) K at 783.7(4) GPa. The melting line of solid hydrogen decreases over this pressure range; the melting temperature is 291 K at 400 GPa. Given that the calculated critical temperature is above the melting one, it is concluded that hydrogen will be a liquid superconductor above room temperature at high pressures. These results will have important applications for future theoretical and experimental work, as well as several possible applications. These will be discussed.