Carnegie researchers describe new quasi-1D superionic state of matter
Updated
Updated · ScienceAlert · May 1
Carnegie researchers describe new quasi-1D superionic state of matter
5 articles · Updated · ScienceAlert · May 1
Published in Nature Communications, the simulations found a carbon-hydrogen phase above 1,100 GPa and 1,000-3,000 Kelvin, conditions relevant to Uranus and Neptune interiors.
Carbon forms a rigid helical lattice while hydrogen diffuses mainly along one axis and rotates across the other two, producing anisotropic heat and electrical conduction.
The findings challenge models assuming isotropic superionic ices and may help explain the planets' unusually tilted magnetic fields, though the simplified CH material does not capture full ice-giant chemistry.
Beyond ice giants, could this new superionic matter be a key to magnetism in distant exoplanets?
Predicted by computers, can scientists now actually create this exotic new state of matter on Earth?
Does a microscopic 'spiral staircase' inside Uranus finally explain its bizarre magnetic field?
Directional Ionic Conduction in Carbon Hydride at Extreme Pressures: Solving Ice Giant Magnetic Mysteries
Overview
In April 2026, scientists Cong Liu and Ronald Cohen used advanced quantum simulations powered by machine learning to discover a new quasi-one-dimensional superionic state in carbon hydride under extreme pressures and temperatures. This state features a chiral carbon lattice that confines hydrogen ions to spiral channels, creating highly directional ionic conductivity. This anisotropic conductivity explains the unusual magnetic fields and heat flow patterns observed in the ice giants Uranus and Neptune, challenging traditional models that assumed uniform conductivity. Beyond planetary science, this discovery opens exciting possibilities for designing novel materials with controlled directional ion transport, though experimental verification remains difficult due to the extreme conditions required. A proposed NASA Uranus Orbiter mission aims to validate these groundbreaking findings.