On the Possibility of a Metallic Modification of Hydrogen

Any lattice in which the hydrogen atoms would be translationally identical (Bravais lattice) would have metallic properties. In the present paper the energy of a body-centered lattice of hydrogen is calculated as a function of the lattice constant. This energy is shown to assume its minimum value for a lattice constant which corresponds to a density many times higher than that of the ordinary, molecular lattice of solid hydrogen. This minimum—though negative—is much higher than that of the molecular form. The body-centered modification of hydrogen cannot be obtained with the present pressures, nor can the other simple metallic lattices. The chances are better, perhaps, for intermediate, layer-like lattices.