Do hydrogen under high pressure becomes metal/superconductor ? how?

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SUMMARY

Hydrogen under high pressure transitions to a metallic state due to its unique electron configuration, specifically when crystallized. According to band theory, with one electron per site, the band remains half-filled, allowing electrons at the Fermi level to move freely under an external field. This phenomenon is distinct from helium, which has a filled band due to two electrons per site. Additionally, the role of metallic bonding and Coulomb interactions is crucial, necessitating an understanding of many-body theory for a comprehensive explanation.

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  • Band theory of solids
  • Many-body physics
  • Coulomb interactions in materials
  • High-pressure physics concepts
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  • Study the principles of band theory in solid-state physics
  • Explore many-body theory through advanced physics textbooks
  • Research the effects of high pressure on hydrogen and other elements
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Physicists, materials scientists, and researchers interested in high-pressure phenomena and the properties of hydrogen as a potential superconductor.

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what happen at atomic level to hydrogen under high pressure ... why it be come metal?
any explanation in term of band theory ? or Nearly free electron theory?
 
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The simple reason is that if hydrogen crystallizes, there is one electron per site. If there are two electrons per site, spin up and spin down will both be occupied, so the band is filled. This is the case of Helium.. If there is only one electron per site, the band is half filled, and electrons at the fermi level are free to move under an external field. This is a simple explanation in terms of band theory.

There is also the question of whether or not metallic bonding can occur in hydrogen -- here the coulomb interaction is important and you will need to know some many-body theory. You can probably find a treatment in any good textbook on many body physics.
 

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