Jupiter model with improved EOS

Core mass and metallicity predictions, however, depend on the equations of state (EOSs) used and on model assumptions. We present an improved ab initio hydrogen EOS, H-REOS.2, and compute the internal structure and thermal evolution of Jupiter within the standard three-layer approach.

The advance over our previous Jupiter models with H-REOS.1 by Nettelmann et al. (2008ApJ...683.1217N) is that the new models are also consistent with the observed >~2 times solar heavy element abundances in Jupiter's atmosphere. Such models have a rock core mass M_c_=0-8M_{earth}_, total mass of heavy elements M_Z_=28-32M_{earth}_, a deep internal layer boundary at >=4Mbar, and a cooling time of 4.4-5.0Gyr when assuming homogeneous evolution.