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 km/s. This technique was used to perform plate-impact, shock wave experiments on cryogenic liquid deuterium (L-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 GPa. The results of these experiments disagree with previously reported Hugoniot measurements of L-D-2 in the pressure range above similar to 40 GPa, but are in good agreement with first principles, ab initio models for hydrogen and its isotopes.