Shock compression and thermodynamics of highly nonideal metallic plasma

Using experimental data on compression and heating of dense metallic plasma by powerful shock waves, we have analyzed the effect of strong Coulomb int eraction on both discrete and continuum bands of energy spectrum, the role of short-range repulsion, and the effect of degeneracy on the equation of s tate for a dense, nonideal metallic plasma. Explosive devices have been use d to produce plasma for which the degree of ionization, nonideal parameter, and degeneracy varied over wide ranges. In order to increase effects of ir reversible energy dissipation, metal targets of low densities have been use d. Thermodynamic measurements have been compared to theoretical models taki ng into account Coulomb interaction, short-range repulsion, and degeneracy of electrons. The plasma models have been shown to be applicable to the equ ilibrium properties of multiply ionized plasma in a wide region of the phas e diagram characterized by extremely high parameters [T greater than or equ al to 10(4) K, P greater than or equal to 10 GPa, and rho = (0.1-1)rho(0)], which is beyond the traditional domain of plasma physics. (C) 1998 America n Institute of Physics. [S1063-7761(98)00810-5].