Optical spectroscopy and imaging of liquid benzene multiply shocked to 13 GPa

Real-time optical spectroscopy and imaging measurements were used to examine physical and chemical changes in liquid benzene multiply shock compressed to peak pressures of 0.6–13 GPa on sub-μs time scales. In contrast to static pressure data, the results show no liquid–solid transition or other changes occurring on the time scales and the pressure range of the present experiments. These findings demonstrate that the benzene response is strongly time-dependent, and the static pressure phase diagram cannot be used directly on sub-μs time scales. In particular, benzene remains a liquid even at pressures well above the pressure threshold for freezing in static studies.