Ramp compression of tantalum to multiterapascal pressures: Constraints of the thermal equation of state to 2.3 TPa and 5000 K
M. G. Gorman, Christine J. Wu, R. F. Smith, Lorin X. Benedict, Carrie J. Prisbrey, William J. Schill, Stanimir Bonev, Zoë C. Long, Per Söderlind, D. G. Braun, Damian Swift, R. Briggs, Travis J. Volz, Earl F. O’Bannon, P. M. Celliers, D. E. Fratanduono, J. H. Eggert, S. J. Ali, J. M. McNaney
Abstract
The authors use intense laser pulses to compress solid tantalum to pressures in excess of 20 million atmospheres. By combing their experimental measurements with existing high-pressure, high-temperature data on Ta, they can create an experimentally bounded high-temperature equation of state that is valid up to multiterapascal pressures and thousands of degrees kelvin. The equation of state may serve as a useful pressure standard at the extreme compressions and elevated temperatures now achievable in state-of-the-art static compression experiments. This work also provides a clear road map for building an accurate high-temperature equation of state catalogue of materials at extreme conditions.