title: Shock compressing diamond to a conducting fluid.
abstract: Laser generated shock reflectance data show that diamond undergoes a continuous transition from optically absorbing to reflecting between Hugoniot pressures 600<P(H)<1000 GPa. The data are consistent with diamond having a thermal population of carriers at P(H) approximately 600 GPa, undergoing band overlap metallization at P(H) approximately 1000 GPa and melting at 800<P(H)<1000 GPa. The results agree well with an equation of state model that predicts that elemental carbon remains solid throughout the interior of Neptune.
authors.affiliation: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Eggert
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Celliers
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Cauble
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Collins