Liquid-liquid transitions in low-Z materials: Parallel with high-pressure solid phase transitions

First-principles molecular dynamics simulations reported in [1] predict structural and electronic transitions in dense liquid sodium that are responsible for its exotic melting curve. In this talk, the possibility for observing similar behavior in other low-Z materials will be discussed. Results from ab initio calculations of several materials will be presented and compared with sodium. [1] Jean-Yves Raty, Eric Schwegler and Stanimir A. Bonev, submitted.