Scientists have long ago put forward the theory that in the cores of giant gas planets, where high temperatures and enormous pressures reign, even the basic laws of physics are undergoing drastic changes. In such extreme conditions, hydrogen is compressed to such a state that this gaseous substance transforms into a metallic form. For many years, a series of attempts have been made to obtain metallic hydrogen in laboratory conditions, but all these attempts, unfortunately, have not been crowned with success.
Why is man trying to get this form of hydrogen? Metallic hydrogen, according to some assumptions, should be a superconductor at room temperature, it should retain its metallic form even after removing the high pressure under which it was formed, etc.
And only recently a group of French scientists was able to conduct an experiment, the results of which indicate the formation of metallic hydrogen in the bowels of a research facility.
The only available method of producing metallic hydrogen today is by compressing gaseous hydrogen at ultra-high pressure. The same method was used by French scientists, who registered the transition of hydrogen from one form to another at a pressure of 425 GPa.
This achievement was the result of the use of two new products by scientists. The first of these innovations is the shape of the diamond "anvil" tip, which is toroidal with a recess in the center. This shape of the tip, in contrast to the previously used flat tips, allows in theory to obtain pressures up to 600 GPa.
The second component of the scientists' success was the infrared spectrometer based on the SOLEIL synchrotron source. This spectrometer, designed and manufactured for this experiment, has a very high sensitivity, which made it possible to measure the optical properties of hydrogen in the infrared range.
When the pressure on hydrogen, cooled to a temperature of 80 K (-193 degrees Celsius), was raised to 425 GPa, hydrogen began to absorb all infrared radiation falling on it, which indicates the formation of the so-called "forbidden zone" and serves as an indicator of the appearance metallic form of hydrogen.
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The results obtained by the French literally split the entire scientific community into two opposite camps, just like after similar results obtained back in 2017. Supporters of one camp, which is more numerous at the present time and which includes many eminent scientists, fully agree with the conclusions of the French scientists and even predict that they will receive a Nobel Prize. Supporters of the second camp, naturally, point out a number of inaccuracies and assumptions, which, in their opinion, makes the results obtained unreliable.
Be that as it may in reality, only the results of repeated experiments conducted by other independent groups of scientists can dot the "i". And the fact that such experiments will be carried out, and there is no doubt, is too great interest of scientists in the metallic form of hydrogen, which should have a number of unusual and amazing properties.