X-ray diffraction of molybdenum under ramp compression to 1 TPa

Molybdenum (Mo) is a transition metal with a wide range of technical applications. There has long been strong interest in its high-pressure behavior, and it is often used as standard for high-pressure experiments. Combining powder x-ray diffraction and dynamic ramp compression, structural and equation of state data were collected for solid Mo to 1 TPa (10 Mbar). Diffraction results are consistent with Mo remaining in the body-centered-cubic structure into the TPa regime. Stress-density data show that Mo under ramp loading is less compressible than the room-temperature isotherm but more compressible than the single-shock Hugoniot.