LAUSR

Shock wave-induced changes in intra-molecular vibrations of polyvinyl toluene (PVT) in a confined geometry target assembly are studied over the pressure range of 0–2.25 GPa. A comparative study of the behavior of PVT in the dynamic and quasi-hydrostatic compression is performed. A 1D radiation hydrodynamic simulation has been performed to calculate the equation of state of the PVT. In present study, the fundamental modes, ν12 mode at 1001 cm−1, ν18a mode at 1031 cm−1 and ν8a mode at 1602 cm−1, of PVT are extensively analyzed. At a pressure of 1.58 GPa, peak shift of 4.24, 5.16 and 6.41 cm−1 for the modes 1001, 1031 and 1602 cm−1, respectively, are observed and are in good agreement with the hydrostatic measurement. Gruneisen parameters are calculated for each modes, which indicates that the primarily volume changes (below 1 GPa) are due to free volume and compression of the inter-chain bonds, and not because of changes in intermolecular bond lengths. The shock velocity in the sample at pressure 2.25 GPa is calculated as 3.6 ±0.46 km/s by measuring the ratios of the experimental shocked volume to total volume of the sample measured in the time-resolved measurement and is in good agreement with the simulation result. A comparative study of shock pressure on PVT and polystyrene molecules is also done. These materials are of great interest as they are widely being used as a host material in scintillator detectors, which are used for the measurement of high-frequency electromagnetic radiation. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.