Shock compression of magnesium silicon nitride

Shock Hugoniot of magnesium silicon nitride MgSiN2 was measured up to pressures of 150 GPa by the inclined mirror method. Shock recovery experiments for the powder were carried out and the post-shock samples were investigated by x-ray diffraction method. There was no clear evidence for high-pressure phase transition as suggested by the first-principles calculations. The experimental results were compared with those of shocked AlN with a similar structure.