We use multimillion-atom molecular dynamics simulations to study shock wave
propagation in fee crystals. As shown recently, shock waves along the (100
) direction form intersecting stacking faults by slippage along (111) close
-packed planes at sufficiently high shock strengths. We find even more inte
resting behavior of shocks propagating in other low-index directions: for t
he (111) case, an elastic precursor separates the shock front from the slap
ped (plastic) region. Shock waves along the (110) direction generate a lead
ing solitary wave train, followed (at sufficiently high shock speeds) by an
elastic precursor, and then a region of complex plastic deformation.