Measurement of sound velocities and shear strength of cerium under shock compression

Sound velocity in shock-compressed cerium was measured over the pressure range of 35-140 GPa using the rarefaction overtake technique. Indicator liquids carbogal and tetrachloromethane were used. The samples were loaded with planar shock wave generators using powerful high explosives (HE). Luminescence of the liquid indicators was recorded by optical gauges based on photodiode 'FD 256'. For the pressure range of 13-35 GPa, sound velocity was measured in cerium samples using the counter release method with manganin-based piezoresistive gauges. From the measured longitudinal and bulk sound velocities, Poisson's ratio and shear strength of cerium were determined. The melting boundary on the shock Hugoniot was estimated. Experimental data is compared with calculation results.