Calculated melting curves for phases of iron

We present a method by which the melting curves and corresponding densities along the liquidus of iron phases are calculated at high pressure. The melting curve of the epsilon(hcp) iron phase is calculated from P = 0 to P = 330 GPa. The melting curve of the gamma(i)(fcc) iron phase is calculated fr om P = 0 to P = 100 GPa. The point where these curves cross, near P = 50 GPa, is the location of the upper triple point on the melting curve. Our method combines the Lindemann melting equation with the Vinet isothermal equation of state. These equations are coupled by means of the Gruneisen parameter, gamma, which is given by K-T'(the pressure derivative of the isothermal bulk modulus, K-T) of the equation of state. By this thermodynamic formalism, we fmd values of volume, V; temperature, T; and the Gruneisen parameter, gamma, along the melting curve. This calculation requires the following thermal parameters: thermal expansivity, alpha(v), at high T; (partial derivative K-T/partial derivative(T)), at high T;the melting temperature, T-m, at P=0; q = (partial derivative ln gamma/partial derivative ln rho)(T) at high T; and gamma. The method also requires zero-pressure equation-of-state parameters: density, rho, at T = 300 ii, K-T at T = 300 K; and (partial derivative K-T/partial derivative P)(T) at T = 300 K. Our results do not confirm or deny the existence of the recently proposed beta phase. We demonstrate that with our existing knowledge the physical parameters of the beta and epsilon phases may be so close to each other that these two phases need not be considered separately in discussing the physics of iron at core P,T conditions. We find that one set of reasonable thermoelastic parameters of the epsilon phase reproduces the melting temperature and density at pressures of 50 and 240 GPa. Further, these parameters give agreement with previous estimates of the melting temperature and density at 330 GPa.