Electrical conductivity of warm dense silica from double-shock experiments.

Understanding materials behaviour under extreme thermodynamic conditions is fundamental in many branches of science, including High-Energy-Density physics, fusion research, material and planetary science. Silica (SiO2) is of primary importance as a key component of rocky planets' mantles. Dynamic compression is the most promising approach to explore molten silicates under extreme conditions. Although most experimental studies are restricted to the Hugoniot curve, a wider range of conditions must be reached to distill temperature and pressure effects. Here we present direct measurements of equation of state and two-colour reflectivity of double-shocked α-quartz on a large ensemble of thermodynamic conditions, which were until now unexplored. Combining experimental reflectivity data with numerical simulations we determine the electrical conductivity. The latter is almost constant with pressure while highly dependent on temperature, which is consistent with simulations results. Based on our findings, we conclude that dynamo processes are likely in Super-Earths' mantles.