Equation of State Measurements in Liquid Deuterium to 70 GPa

Using intense magnetic pressure, a method was developed to launch flyer plates to velocities in excess of $20\mathrm{km}/\mathrm{s}$. This technique was used to perform plate-impact, shock wave experiments on cryogenic liquid deuterium ( $L-{\mathrm{D}}_2$) to examine its high-pressure equation of state. Using an impedance matching method, Hugoniot measurements were obtained in the pressure range of $30–70\mathrm{GPa}$. The results of these experiments disagree with previously reported Hugoniot measurements of $L-{\mathrm{D}}_2$ in the pressure range above $\sim 40\mathrm{GPa}$, but are in good agreement with first principles, ab initio models for hydrogen and its isotopes.