High pressure equation of state of rubidium

The pressure-volume relation of rubidium metal is studied by high-pressure x-ray diffraction up to 110 kbar at room temperature. In addition, pressure scans of the near-infrared reflectivity are recorded up to 250 kbar. Rubidium undergoes a bcc to fcc structural transition (Rb I → Rb II) at 70 ± 2 kbar. Other phase transitions occur at 128 ± 3, 160 ± 5 and 190 ± 5 kbar on the ruby pressure scale. The pressure-volume relation and the near-infrared reflectivity provide evidence for a pressure-induced 5s → 4d electronic transition similar to the well-known 6s → 5d transition in cesium metal.