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Title: Structural Transformation and Melting in Gold Shock Compressed to 355 GPa

Journal Article · · Physical Review Letters
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [4];  [4];  [2];  [4];  [4];  [4];  [2]
  1. Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States); Institute for Shock Physics, Washington State University
  2. Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States)
  3. Washington State Univ., Argonne, IL (United States); Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
  4. Washington State Univ., Argonne, IL (United States)

Gold is believed to retain its ambient crystal structure to very high pressures under static and shock compression, enabling its wide use as a pressure marker. Our in situ x-ray diffraction measurements on shock-compressed gold show that it transforms to the body-centered-cubic (bcc) phase, with an onset pressure between 150-176 GPa. Liquid/bcc coexistence was observed between 220-302 GPa and complete melting occurs by 355 GPa. Furthermore, our observation of the lower coordination bcc structure in shocked gold is in marked contrast with theoretical predictions and the reported observation of the hexagonal-close-packed structure under static compression.

Research Organization:
Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States). Inst. for Shock Physics
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Programs (DP) (NA-10)
Grant/Contract Number:
NA0002007
OSTI ID:
1545791
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1545420; OSTI ID: 1574298
Journal Information:
Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 123; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (2)

Direct observation of the hcp-bcc phase transition and melting along the principal Hugoniot of Mg journal January 2020
Measurement of Body-Centered Cubic Gold and Melting under Shock Compression journal July 2019