Extension of the Hugoniot and analytical release model of α-quartz to 0.2-3 TPa

In recent years, alpha-quartz has been used prolifically as an impedance matching standard in shock wave experiments in the multi-Mbar regime (1 Mbar = 100 GPa = 0.1 TPa). This is due to the fact that above similar to 90-100 GPa along the principal Hugoniot alpha-quartz becomes reflective, and thus, shock velocities can be measured to high precision using velocity interferometry. The Hugoniot and release of alpha-quartz have been studied extensively, enabling the development of an analytical release model for use in impedance matching. However, this analytical release model has only been validated over a range of 300-1200 GPa (0.3-1.2 TPa). Here, we extend this analytical model to 200-3000 GPa (0.2-3 TPa) through additional alpha-quartz Hugoniot and release measurements, as well as first-principles molecular dynamics calculations. Published by AIP Publishing.