Orbital-free extension to Kohn-Sham density functional theory equation of state calculations: application to silicon dioxide

Abstract

The liquid regime equation of state of silicon dioxide SiO$_2$ is calculated via quantum molecular dynamics in the density range 5 to 15 g/cc and with temperatures from 0.5 to 100 eV, including the $\alpha$-quartz and stishovite phase Hugoniot curves. Below 8 eV calculations are based on Kohn-Sham density functional theory (DFT), above 8 eV a new orbital-free DFT formulation, presented here, based on matching Kohn-Sham DFT calculations is employed. Recent experimental shock data is found to be in very good agreement with the current results. Finally both experimental and simulation data are used in constructing a new liquid regime equation of state table for SiO$_2$.