title: Shock-induced transformation of Al2O3 and LiF into semiconducting liquids.
abstract: Shock compression of sapphire (Al2O3) and lithium fluoride (LiF) to pressures above 5 Mbar has been observed to transform these transparent, wide band-gap insulators into partially degenerate liquid semiconductors with optical reflectivities of several percent. Reflectivities rise steadily with shock pressure up to 45% in sapphire at 20 Mbar and 20% in LiF at 13 Mbar. Using a simple model, the electron scattering length was inferred to be approximately the interatomic distance. In addition, several equation-of-state points at these pressures were measured.
authors.affiliation: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Celliers
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Eggert
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Moon