Analysis of Cold Curve Forms for High--Pressure Physics

An extensive collection of cold curve forms is analyzed using aluminum as a representative material. The cold pressure curves are compared with theoretical calculations up to 100 fold compressions. Furthermore, the effect of the curves on the Al Hugoniot at pressures of up to 100 Mbar is compared with a sampling of the available experimental data. An optimal cold curve form for equation of state applications is developed which describes the correct behavior near normal density and also in the asymptotic compression limit.