Electrical conductivity of subsurface ocean analog solutions from molecular dynamics simulations

nvestigating the habitability of ocean worlds is a priority of current and future NASA mis-3 sions. The Europa Clipper Mission will conduct approximately 50 flybys of Europa, returning4 a detailed portrait of the interior from the synthesis of data from its instrument suite. The5 magnetometer on board has the capability of decoupling Europa’s induced magnetic field to6 high precision, and when these data are inverted, the electrical conductivity profile from the7 electrically conducting subsurface salty ocean may be surmised.8 To optimize the interpretation of magnetic induction investigations near ocean worlds to9 constrain their salinity from electrical conductivity, accurate laboratory electrical conductivity10 1 data are needed at the conditions present in their subsurface oceans. Comprehensive conduc-11 tivity datasets are sparse or absent—from either laboratory data or simulations—at the high-12 pressure, low-temperature (HPLT) conditions of icy ocean worlds. We conducted molecular13 dynamics simulations of candidate ocean compositions of aqueous NaCl at HPLT conditions14 at multiple concentrations. These data can guide higher-precision laboratory experiments at15 conditions relevant to icy moons, which can be used to forward-model the magnetic induction16 signals at ocean worlds and compare with future spacecraft data. We discuss implications for17 the Europa Clipper mission