Refraction index of shock compressed water in the megabar pressure range

Batani D., Jakubowska K., Benuzzi-Mounaix A., Cavazzoni C. (Cineca), Danson C., ...

We compressed water to megabar pressures by laser-driven shock waves and evidenced transparent, opaque and reflecting phases as pressure increases. The refraction index of water in the first two states was measured using a VISAR system. At high compression a sharp increase of the real and imaginary part of the refraction index is observed. Experiments were performed at the LULI and RAL laboratories.

EPL, EUROPHYSICS LETTERS
Volume: 112  Issue: 4
Article Number: 49901
DOI: 10.1209/0295-5075/112/49901
Published: NOV 2015