Graphite melting and the nature of liquid carbon

The aim of this study is to address the long-standing question of graphite melting and the nature of liquid carbon, a topic that has led to conflicting results since the late 1930s. In this study, graphite melting was performed using high-power CW-laser heating in an inert gas to a pressure of 6 kbar. Optical measurements such as high-speed pyrometry and spectropyrometry and high-speed video recording were used to capture and record the moment of liquid carbon formation. The pressure-dependent melting temperature and emissivity of the liquid carbon were measured and its density was estimated. All the obtained results showed strong correlation, resolving existing contradictions in the understanding of carbon's melting behavior, and providing insights into the nature of liquid carbon.