METALLIZATION OF FLUID MOLECULAR-HYDROGEN AT 140 GPA (1.4 MBAR)

Electrical resistivities were measured for liquid H-2 and D-2 shock co mpressed to pressures of 93-180 GPa (0.93-1.8 Mbar). Calculated densit ies and temperatures were in the range 0.28-0.36 mol/cm(3) and 2200-44 00 K. Resistivity decreases almost 4 orders of magnitude from 93 to 14 0 GPa and is essentially constant at a value typical of a liquid metal from 140 to 180 GPa. The data are interpreted in terms of a continuou s transition from a semiconducting to metallic diatomic fluid at 140 G Pa and 3000 K.