Contact information: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 7000 East Avenue, L-413 Livermore, CA 94550 email: boates at llnl dot gov

Education:

• Ph.D. 2013, Dalhousie University, Department of Physics

Research:

I use density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics (among other advanced first-principles methods) to study the behavior of light elements under extreme pressures and temperatures. In my work, I have identified several new phase transitions in dense fluids and solids with significant implications for how certain materials interact and evolve within planets. Specifically, I have worked extensively on the phase diagrams and thermodynamic stability of N₂, CO₂, MgSiO₃, and MgO. I also work on developing new methods to predict crystalline phases and evaluate free energies of solids and liquids at finite-temperature.

Recent publications:

• B. Boates & S.A. Bonev, “Demixing instability in dense molten MgSiO₃ and the phase diagram of MgO” Physical Review Letters 110, 135504 (2013).

• B. Boates, A.M. Teweldeberhan, & S.A. Bonev, “Stability of dense liquid carbon dioxide” Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 109, 14808 (2012). Featured in “This week in PNAS”

• B. Boates & S.A. Bonev, “Electronic and structural properties of dense liquid and amorphous nitrogen” Physical Review B 83, 174114 (2011).

• B. Boates, S. Hamel, E. Schwegler, & S.A. Bonev, “Structural and optical properties of liquid CO₂ for pressures up to 1 terapascal” The Journal of Chemical Physics 134, 064504 (2011).

• B. Boates & S.A. Bonev, “First-order liquid-liquid phase transition in compressed nitrogen” Physical Review Letters 102, 015701 (2009).