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Updated: Aug 18, 2026

An Analog Macroscopic Technique for Studying Molecular Hydrodynamic Processes in Dense Gases and Liquids
Published on: December 4, 2017
Shock wave propagation in dissociating low-Z liquids: D2
A B Belonoshko1, A Rosengren, N V Skorodumova
1Applied Materials Physics, Department of Material Science and Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract:
We present direct molecular dynamics simulations of shock wave propagation in liquid deuterium for a wide range of impact velocities. The calculated Hugoniot is in perfect agreement with the gas-gun data as well as with the most recent experimental data. At high impact velocities we observe a smearing of the shock wave front and propagation of fast dissociated molecules well ahead of the compressed region. This smearing occurs due to the fast deuterium dissociation at the shock wave front. The experimental results are discussed in view of this effect.
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