Thorium under strong compression—a test case for the evaluation of EOS data by different forms and procedures

X-ray diffraction on Thorium under pressures to 300 GPa at ambient temperature provides new EOS data for both the (low pressure) fcc phase as well as for the (high pressure) bct phase. A detailed evaluation of these data and a comparison with previous results shows systematic differences in the fitted parameters resulting from the use of different EOS forms and from the correlations in the parameters used in all these fitting procedures. The absolute uncertainties in these parameters are elucidated and special attention is given to the compatibility of different EOS forms for phases which are related by second order transitions.