Shock Compression of Liquid Noble Gases to Multi-Mbar Pressures

Shock compression experiments performed using Sandia’s Z-Accelerator determine the principal Hugoniot of cryogenically-cooled liquid xenon, krypton, and argon in the Mbar regime. Under strong shock compression, an insulator to metallic state transition occurs and the shock front becomes reflective allowing for a direct measurement of the sample’s shock velocity using laser interferometry. DFT simulations at these extreme conditions show good agreement with the experimental data – demonstrating the attention to detail required for dealing with elements with relativistic core states and d-state electrons. The results from shock compression experiments and DFT simulations are presented for liquid Xe to 840 GPa, for liquid Kr to 800 GPa, and for liquid Ar to 600 GPa Method