Reflected shock experiments on the equation-of-state properties of liquid deuterium at 100-600 GPa (1-6 Mbar)

Laser-driven shock experiments are used to study the equation-of-state (EOS ) properties of liquid deuterium. Reflected shocks are utilized to increase the shock pressure, to expand the area of EOS phase space probed by the ex periment, and to enhance the sensitivity to differences in compressibility. The results of these experiments differ substantially from the predictions of the Sesame EOS. EOS models showing large dissociation effects and large compressibility (up to a factor of 2) agree with the data. By use of indep endent techniques, this experiment offers the first confirmation of an earl ier observation of enhanced compressibility in liquid deuterium. (C) 2001 A merican Institute of Physics.