Shell-structure effects on high-pressure Rankine–Hugoniot shock adiabats

Rankine–Hugoniot shock adiabats are calculated in the pressure range 1 Mbar to 10 Gbar with two atomic-structure models: the atom in a spherical cell and the atom in a jellium of charges. These quantum self-consistent-field models include shell effects, which have a strong impact on pressure and shock velocity along the shock adiabat. Comparisons with experimental data are presented and quantum effects are interpreted in terms of electronic specific heat. A simple analytical estimate for the maximum compression is proposed, depending on initial density, atomic weight and atomic number.