A Comparative Study for the Equation of State of Dense Fluid Hydrogen

Recent developments in shock-wave experimental techniques have allowed the 100 GPa range to be probed. Driven by a two-stage gas gun (Livermore, USA) or chemical explosives (Chernogolovka, Russia), the multiple shock-wave technique has been applied to determine the equation of state and the electrical conductivity of dense hydrogen and deuterium fluids. In single shock wave experiments driven by the NOVA laser, the principle Hugoniot curve of deuterium was determined. Interesting effects such as dissociation and the transition to metallic-like conductivities occur under these conditions. The equations of state applied so far to analyze the experimental data are compared and a new semi-empirical equation of state is given.