The Use of Transient X-ray Diffraction for Shock Wave and High Pressure Materials Science
Abstract
Transient x-ray diffraction is powerful tool for the study of shock wave propagation and materials effects in the condensed state. Some of the phenomena that can be studied are plastic wave propagation, and the dynamics of phase transitions. We report on an on-going series of experiments on the Trident laser at Los Alamos and the Nova laser at Livermore that illustrate the value of transient diffraction. If significant plastic deformation occurs a diffracted signal from planes orthogonal to the shock propagation might be expected. We have observed such a signal in experiments with LiF crystals. Similar experiments with silicon exhibit other interesting phenomena such as the splitting of diffracted lines which may give temporally resolved information on phase changes. We have applied transient diffraction to the study of Be which is one of the most promising materials for the fuel containing capsule in inertial confinement fusion (ICF) target designs that may achieve ignition. We report on time resolved diffraction measurements using Be crystals that will help to clarify the behavior of Be in laser driven implosions. This work was performed under the auspices of the U. S. Department of Energy by the Los Alamos National Laboratory under contract No. W-7405-Eng-36.
- Publication:
-
APS Division of Plasma Physics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- November 1998
- Bibcode:
- 1998APS..DPP.R8Q17H