Electrical conductivity and polymorphic transition of titanium in the megabar shock pressure range

The effect of high dynamic pressures on the electrical resistance of titanium has been studied. The electrical resistance of titanium samples has been measured under conditions of step shock compression followed by unloading. The history of shock-wave loading of titanium has been calculated using the semiempirical equations of state. It has been shown that, in the phase of compression at a pressure of 83(5) GPa, the resistance of titanium samples stepwise decreases by 30%. In the unloading phase in the same region of dynamic loads, the reverse variation in the electrical resistance of titanium takes place. The observed effect is interpreted as a consequence of the $\omega\leftrightarrow\gamma$ polymorphic transition in shock-compressed titanium.