Shock density measurements of liquid H2 and D2 along the principle Hugoniot from 0.2 to 2 Mbar
Abstract
Using laser generated shock waves we have performed a series of experiments to measure the shock density of liquid H2 and D2 in the pressure range 0.2-2 Mbar. In the experiments a high power, spatially smoothed laser beam irradiates a 100-200 μ m thick aluminum cell which contains liquid H2 (or D_2). The generated shock wave travels through the aluminum and launches a shock in the unperturbed liquid. The trajectories of the aluminum/H2 interface and shock front in H2 were measured using side on x-ray radiography. This technique allows us to directly measure the compression ratio and calculate the shock density. We will present the results of these experiments which show a significant softening of the equation of state due to dissociation and compare our results with current theories.
- Publication:
-
APS March Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- March 1998
- Bibcode:
- 1998APS..MAR.K3409D