Continuous Sound Velocity Measurements along the Shock Hugoniot Curve of Quartz

• Published in: Physical review letters 2018-05, Vol.120 (21), p.215703-215703, Article 215703
• Main Authors: Li, Mu, Zhang, Shuai, Zhang, Hongping, Zhang, Gongmu, Wang, Feng, Zhao, Jianheng, Sun, Chengwei, Jeanloz, Raymond
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acoustic velocity; Bulk modulus; Chemical bonds; Density functional theory; Empirical equations; Equations of state; Gruneisen parameter; Hugoniot curves; Ideal gas; Mathematical models; Molecular dynamics; Predictions; Quartz; Silicon dioxide; Sound; Stishovite; Thermal expansion; Velocity
• ISSN: 0031-9007; 1079-7114
• DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.215703

We report continuous measurements of the sound velocity along the principal Hugoniot curve of α quartz between 0.25 and 1.45 TPa, as determined from lateral release waves intersecting the shock front as a function of time in decaying-shock experiments. The measured sound velocities are lower than predicted by prior models, based on the properties of stishovite at densities below ∼7  g/cm^{3}, but agree with density functional theory molecular dynamics calculations and an empirical wide-regime equation of state presented here. The Grüneisen parameter calculated from the sound velocity decreases from γ∼1.3 at 0.25 TPa to 0.66 at 1.45 TPa. In combination with evidence for increased (configurational) specific heat and decreased bulk modulus, the values of γ suggest a high thermal expansion coefficient at ∼0.25-0.65  TPa, where SiO_{2} is thought to be a bonded liquid. From our measurements, dissociation of the molecular bonds persists to ∼0.65-1.0  TPa, consistent with estimates by other methods. At higher densities, the sound velocity is close to predictions from previous models, and the Grüneisen parameter approaches the ideal gas value.