Extreme compression can alter the free-electron behavior of “simple” metals such as sodium. At pressures greater than 200 GPa, Na is predicted to transform into a transparent electride structure where valence electrons are localized in interstitial regions. Laser-driven ramp compression is used to compress Na into this unexplored pressure regime to investigate the crystal structure, optical properties, and melting behavior of Na. X-ray diffraction is used to constrain the crystal structure and detect melting. Optical reflectivity measurements are used to detect metal-insulator transitions and simultaneous velocimetry is used to infer the Na pressure. We show the highest‑pressure solid x-ray diffraction and reflectivity data on Na to date.
*This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration under Award Number DE-NA0001944.
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Presenters
Danae N Polsin
Laboratory for Laser Energetics
Univ of Rochester
Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester
Authors
Danae N Polsin
Laboratory for Laser Energetics
Univ of Rochester
Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester
Thomas Boehly
Laboratory for Laser Energetics
University of Rochester, LLE
Lab for Laser Energetics
Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester
Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Laboratory for Laser Energetics
Gilbert W Collins
University of Rochester, Departments of Mechanical Engineering, Physics and Astronomy, and Laboratory for Laser Energetics
Laboratory for Laser Energetics
Univ of Rochester
Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester
Univ of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics
University of Rochester
University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics
James Ryan Rygg
Laboratory for Laser Energetics
Univ of Rochester
Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester
University of Rochester
University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics
