Measurements of the equation of state of deuterium at the fluid insulator-metal transition
A high-intensity laser was used to shock-compress liquid deuterium to pressures from 22 to 340 gigapascals. In this regime deuterium is predicted to transform from an insulating molecular fluid to an atomic metallic fluid. Shock densities and pressures, determined by radiography, revealed an increase in compressibility near 100 gigapascals indicative of such a transition. Velocity interferometry measurements, obtained by reflecting a laser probe directly off the shock front in flight, demonstrated that deuterium shocked above 55 gigapascals has an electrical conductivity characteristic of a liquid metal and independently confirmed the radiography.
Collins
GW
G. W. Collins, L. B. Da Silva, P. Celliers, D. M. Gold, M. E. Foord, R. J. Wallace, S. V. Weber, K. S. Budil, R. Cauble, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA. A. Ng, University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T.
Da Silva LB
Celliers
P
Gold
DM
Foord
ME
Wallace
RJ
Ng
A
Weber
SV
Budil
KS
Cauble
R