Abstract Details
Probing Fundamental Properties of Matter at Extreme Pressures and Densities on the Z Accelerator
Author: Marcus D Knudson
Requested Type: Oral Only
Submitted: 2009-04-20 12:45:52
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Contact Info:
Sandia National Labs
1515 Eubank Blvd. SE
Albuquerque, NM 87123
USA
Abstract Text:
Over the past several years the Z accelerator at Sandia National Laboratories has been developed into a unique platform for studying fundamental properties of matter at extreme conditions. The extremely large currents (~20 mega-amp with ~200-600 ns rise time) and associated magnetic fields (several mega-gauss) produced by the accelerator result in magnetic compression in the multi-Mbar regime. With appropriate current shaping to avoid premature shock formation in the sample, quasi-isentropic compression experiments (ICE) can be performed to several Mbar stresses. In this way the Z platform provides a unique platform for determining material isentropes to high stresses, performing phase transition studies, obtaining constitutive properties information, and estimating material strength at high stresses. Furthermore, the intense magnetic pressure can also be used to magnetically accelerate macroscopic flyer plates to ultra-high velocities, in excess of 35 km/s. In this way more traditional Hugoniot experiments can be performed to ultra-high pressures. The Z platform allows a large expanse of the equation of state surface to be explored allowing new and exciting material dynamics experiments to be performed.
Sandia is a multidiscipline laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.
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