Raman spectroscopy of laser shocked polystyrene

We have carried out Raman spectroscopic measurements on atactic polystyrene (aPS) under shock compression up to 2 GPa. Observed wavenumber shifts of Raman active modes have been used to determine their Grüneisen parameters and bond anharmonicities. Raman mode at 798 cm −1 displays maximum blue shift of 4.95 cm −1 /GPa. Our observed wavenumber shifts under shock compression are found to be consistent with the earlier results obtained under hydrostatic pressure. We have also evaluated pressure through 1D radiation hydrodynamic simulations, and the results are found to be in good agreement with the experimental values. The pressure induced wavenumber shifts and line width changes of the present study can be utilized as a gauge for pressure measurement because of laser induced shock front. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.