If you were able to fly through the extreme conditions of Neptune’s atmosphere, you might experience the fascinating phenomenon of a rain of diamonds falling on your windows.
A new study by an international team of researchers shows that glittering snowstorms like these are relatively common across the universe.
On icy gas giants like Neptune and Uranus, the extremely high temperatures and pressures deep in their atmospheres can cause carbon to bond into crystals. These conditions break down hydrocarbons such as methane, and the internal carbon atoms combine with four other carbon atoms to form solid diamond particles.
The temperature and pressure thresholds for this type of diamond formation are lower than scientists thought, based on experiments in which the diamond formation process was simulated in laboratory conditions, outlined in a new study. Ta.
Then it might rain diamonds. smaller gas planets, the so-called “mini-Neptune.” There is much more we know outside of our solar system.
These discoveries may also explain some mysteries about Uranus and Neptune’s magnetic fields.
“This groundbreaking discovery not only advances our knowledge of our local icy planets, but also has important implications for understanding similar processes on exoplanets outside our solar system.” To tell Siegfried Grenzer, a physicist at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, said:
The team behind the new research European XFEL It uses an X-ray free electron laser (X-ray free electron laser) to monitor the diamond as it forms from a polystyrene film of hydrocarbon compounds by applying enormous pressure between them in a vise-like device.
![European XFEL Laser](https://www.sciencealert.com/images/2024/01/BigMachine.jpg)
This configuration allowed the team to observe the process for a longer time than was possible in previous experiments. This long study suggests that while intense pressures and extremely high temperatures are still very necessary, they may not have to be as extreme as previously thought.
When it comes to planets, this suggests that diamonds may form at shallower depths than scientists estimate. This means that descending diamond particles may be having an even greater impact on these planets’ magnetic fields as they drag gas and ice with them. It’s a more direct method than previously understood.
Unlike Earth, icy planets like Neptune and Uranus do not have symmetrical magnetic fields. It’s something of a mystery until now, suggesting that magnetic fields aren’t forming within the planet’s core, and diamonds could help explain it.
“Movement could begin in the conductive ice on these planets and affect the production of their magnetic fields.” To tell Mungo Frost, a physicist at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.
These are all interesting things that could be explored further in future research. In recent years, scientists have inched closer to understanding how this process works on distant planets and what its effects may be.
Who knows? Perhaps one day we will be able to conduct actual field studies in the harsh atmospheres of Neptune and Uranus and see firsthand how this diamond rain forms.
“A rain of diamonds on an icy planet presents us with an interesting puzzle to solve.” To tell frost.
This research natural astronomy.