Optical Evidence for the Metallization of Xenon at 132(5) GPa

Abstract

We have compressed xenon in a diamond-anvil cell to approximately 200 GPa. The metallization of xenon by band-gap closure was investigated by obtaining optical data in both the metallic and insulating states. In the metallic state, we determined the pressure dependence of the plasma frequency from absorption data fitted with a free-electron model. In the insulating state, we determined the pressure dependence of the band gap from absorption data fitted with an indirect-band-gap model. Our optical data indicate that the insulator-to-metal transition in xenon occurs at 132(5) GPa.