Isentropes and Hugoniot curves for dense hydrogen and deuterium -: art. no. 060202

Multiple-shock experiments with fluid hydrogen have shown that a transition from semiconducting behavior to metal-like conductivity occurs at pressures (p) of about 140 GPa and temperatures (T) near 3000 K. We model the p-T pathway by Hugoniot curves (initial shock) and isentropes (subsequent shocks). For the calculation of these curves we apply an expression for the free energy developed recently for dense hydrogen and deuterium plasma in the regions of partial dissociation and partial ionization. Furthermore, we discuss the relations between Hugoniot curves, isentropes and the coexistence line of the plasma phase transition.