Melting Line of Hydrogen at High Pressures

The insulator to metal transition in solid hydrogen was predicted over 70 years ago but the demonstration of this transition remains a scientific challenge. In this regard, a peak in the temperature versus pressure melting line of hydrogen may be a possible precursor for metallization. However, previous measurements of the fusion curve of hydrogen have been limited in pressure and temperature by diffusion of hydrogen into the gasket or diamonds. To overcome this limitation we have used an innovative technique of pulsed laser heating of the sample and find a peak in the melting line at P=64.7±4GPa and T=1055±20K.