Shock-Compression Experiments and Reflectivity Measurements in Deuterium up to 3.5 Mbar using the Nova Laser

We report on measurements of the equation of state and optical reflectivity at 1064 nm wavelength of a high pressure shock front propagating through a sample of liquid deuterium. We find that the shock front reflectivity increases from a low value (< 3.5%) to a saturation level of 65% in the pressure range of 0.22 - 0.55 Mbar. The pressure range where this metallization transformation takes place coincides with the pressure range where high compressibilities were observed on the principal Hugoniot.