[en] The equation of state of glow discharge polymer (GDP) was measured to high precision using the two-stage light gas gun at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory at pressures up to 70 GPa. Both absolute measurements and impedance matching techniques were used to determine the principal and secondary Hugoniots. GDP likely reacts at about 30 GPa, demonstrated by specific emission at 450 nm coupled with changes to the Hugoniot and reshock points. As a result of these reactions, the shock pressure in GDP evolves in time, leading to a possible decrease in pressure as compression increases, or negative compressibility, and causing complex pressure profiles within the plastic. Velocity wave profile variation was observed as a function of position on each shot, suggesting some internal variation of GDP may be present, which would be consistent with previous observations. The complex temporal and possibly structural evolution of GDP under shock compression suggests that calculations of compression and pressure based upon bulk or mean measurements may lead to artificially low pressures and high compressions. Evidence for this includes a large shift in calculating reshock pressures based on the reflected Hugoniot. These changes also suggest other degradation mechanisms for inertial confinement fusion implosions

[en] We discuss the development of the tabular equation of state (EOS) models for ablator materials in current use at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in simulations of inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments at the National Ignition Facility. We illustrate the methods with a review of current models for ablator materials and discuss some of the challenges in performing hydrocode simulations with high-fidelity multiphase models. We stress the importance of experimental data, as well as the utility of ab initio electronic structure calculations, in regions where data is not currently available. We illustrate why Hugoniot data alone is not sufficient to constrain the EOS models. These cases illustrate the importance of experimental EOS data in multi-megabar regimes, and the vital role they play in the development and validation of EOS models for ICF simulations. (paper)

[en] We report on a new technique to accelerate flyer-plates to high velocities (∼5 km/s). In this work, a strong shock is created through direct laser ablation of a thin polyimide foil. Subsequent shock breakout of that foil results in the generation of a plasma characterized by a smoothly increasing density gradient and a strong forward momentum. Stagnation of this plasma onto an aluminum foil and the resultant momentum transfer accelerates a thin aluminum flyer-plate. The aluminum flyer-plate is then accelerated to a peak velocity of ∼5 km/s before impact with a transparent lithium fluoride (LiF) window. Simulations of the stagnating plasma ramp compression and wave reverberations within the flyer-plate suggest that the temperature at the flyer-plate impact surface is elevated by less than 50 °C. Optical velocimetry is used to measure the flyer-plate velocity and impact conditions enabling the shocked refractive index of LiF to be determined. The results presented here are in agreement with conventional flyer-plate measurements validating the use of plasma-accelerated flyer-plates for equation of state and impact studies.

[en] Nanosecond in situ x-ray diffraction and simultaneous velocimetry measurements were used to determine the crystal structure and pressure, respectively, of ramp compressed aluminum at stress states between 111 and 475 GPa. The solid-solid Al phase transformations, fcc-hcp and hcp-bcc, are observed at 216 ± 9 GPa and 321 ± 12 GPa, respectively, with the bcc phase persisting to 475 GPa. Here, this is the first in situ observation of the high-pressure bcc phase of Al. High-pressure texture of the hcp and bcc phases suggests close-packed or nearly close-packed lattice planes remain parallel through both transformations.

[en] MgO is a major constituent of the MgO-FeO-SiO₂ system that comprises the Earth's mantle and that of super-Earth exoplanets. Knowledge of its high-pressure behavior is important for modeling the more complex compounds. This paper presents measurements of the principal Hugoniot, sound velocity, and temperature of MgO, shocked to pressures of 710 to 2300 GPa using laser-driven compression. The Hugoniot and temperature measurements compare favorably to previous results constraining the shock response of MgO at extreme conditions. The Grtineisen parameter was calculated from the Hugoniot and sound velocity data and found to be underpredicted by tabular models. The sound velocity of liquid MgO is overpredicted by models implying that the quantity of partial melt required to match decreased wave speeds in ultra-low velocity zones in the lower mantle may be less than previously assumed and experiments at lower-mantle pressures are needed.

[en] 1D spectral imaging was used to characterize the K-shell emission of Z ≈ 30–35 and Z ≈ 40–42 laser-irradiated foils at the National Ignition Facility. Foils were driven with up to 60 kJ of 3ω light, reaching laser irradiances on target between 0.5 and 20 × 10¹⁵ W/cm². Laser-to-X-ray conversion efficiency (CE) into the He_α line (plus satellite emission) of 1.0%–1.5% and 0.15%–0.2% was measured for Z ≈ 30–32 and Z ≈ 40–42, respectively. Measured CE into He_α (plus satellite emission) of Br (Z = 35) compound foils (either KBr or RbBr) ranged between 0.16% and 0.29%. Measured spectra are compared with 1D non-local thermodynamic equilibrium atomic kinetic and radiation transport simulations, providing a fast and accurate predictive capability

[en] The equation of state of carbon at extreme pressures is of interest to studies of planetary ice giants and white dwarfs and to inertial con nement fusion (ICF) because diamond is used as an ablator material at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). Knowledge of both the high-pressure shock and release responses of diamond are needed to accurately model an ICF implosion and design ignition targets. This article presents Hugoniot and release data for both single-crystal diamond and the high-density carbon (HDC), comprised of nanometer-scale grains, used as a NIF ablator. Experiments were performed at the Omega Laser Facility where diamond was shock-compressed to multimegabar pressures and then released into reference materials with known Hugoniots (quartz, polystyrene, silica aerogel, and liquid deuterium). Impedance matching between diamond and the standards provided the data to constrain diamond release models. Hugoniot data were obtained by impedance matching with a quartz standard and results indicate that the HDC, which is ultrananocrystalline and ~4% less dense, has a sti er Hugoniot as compared to single-crystal diamond. Accuracy of the HDC data were improved using a non-steady waves correction [D. E. Fratanduono et al., J. Appl. Phys. 116, 033517 (2014)] to determine shock velocity pro les in the opaque HDC samples.

[en] We describe a new equation of state (EOS) experimental technique that enables the study of thermodynamic derivatives into the TPa regime and apply it to boron carbide (B4C). The data presented here are the first principal Hugoniot sound speed measurements reported using a laser-driven shock platform, providing a new means to explore the high-pressure off-Hugoniot response of opaque materials. Furthermore, the extended B4C Hugoniot suggests the presence of a new high-pressure phase, as recently predicted by molecular dynamics simulations, adding to the complexity of the existing phase diagram.

[en] Here, we developed an iterative forward analysis (IFA) technique with the ability to use hydrocode simulations as a fitting function for analysis of dynamic compression experiments. The IFA method optimizes over parameterized quantities in the hydrocode simulations, breaking the degeneracy of contributions to the measured material response. Velocity profiles from synthetic data generated using a hydrocode simulation are analyzed as a first-order validation of the technique. We also analyze multiple magnetically driven ramp compression experiments on copper and compare with more conventional techniques. Excellent agreement is obtained in both cases.

[en] We propose a method for thermal conductivity measurements of high energy density matter based on differential heating. A temperature gradient is created either by surface heating of one material or at an interface between two materials by different energy deposition. The subsequent heat conduction across the temperature gradient is observed by various time-resolved probing techniques. Conceptual designs of such measurements using laser heating, proton heating, and x-ray heating are presented. The sensitivity of the measurements to thermal conductivity is confirmed by simulations