Achieving high-density states through shock-wave loading of precompressed samples.

Jeanloz, Raymond; Celliers, Peter M; Collins, Gilbert W; Eggert, Jon H; Lee, Kanani K M; McWilliams, R Stewart; Brygoo, Stéphanie; Loubeyre, Paul · Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · 2007

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Materials can be experimentally characterized to terapascal pressures by sending a laser-induced shock wave through a sample that is precompressed inside a diamond-anvil cell. This combination of static and dynamic compression methods has been experimentally demonstrated and ultimately provides access to the 10- to 100-TPa (0.1-1 Gbar) pressure range that is relevant to planetary science, testing first-principles theories of condensed matter, and experimentally studying a new regime of chemical bonding.