Electrical measurements in silicon under shock-wave compression

Abstract
The electrical behavior of p‐type silicon in the (111) orientation was studied under shock stresses from 8 to 160 kbar. Positive electrical signals are induced in the crystals during passage of elastic shock waves. Maximum signal amplitude was detected below the Hugoniot elastic limit (55 kbar). Resistance‐vs‐stress measurements were made when the polarization signal was zero, i.e., no elastic waves were in the crystals. The resistance becomes very small near the elastic limit, indicating that a metallic state is reached. The relative resistance, R/Ro, then increases significantly at 133 kbar where a phase transition is indicated.