Adiabatic phase transitions and wavesplitting in fluids of high specific heat

The splitting of compression and of expansion waves in saturated fluids of high specific heat is investigated analytically. Both situations are shown to result in the split of an incoming wave into two adiabatic waves, i.e, fast forerunner and phase transition waves. The forerunner is a pressure jump in a one-phase fluid, which is a liquid for expansion waves and a gas for compression waves. A metastable state results, consisting of either a superheated liquid or a supersaturated vapor. The onset of homogeneous nucleation limits the amplitude of the forerunner wave. The amplitude of the phase transition wave is quantified by the Rankine-Hugoniot adiabats for deflagration and detonation waves. Finally, the effects of supersaturation are discussed.