Reduced scale stripline platform to extend accessible pressures on the Z machine: Shockless compression of platinum to 650 GPa

Abstract

Reaching astrophysically relevant high energy density (HED) material states in the laboratory is an ongoing effort at multiple experimental facilities. We have developed a new dynamic compression platform for the Z Pulsed Power Facility that allows for sample sizes 100s of [Formula: see text]m in thickness that accommodate multiple grains in order to fully capture bulk properties, such as material strength. A pair of experiments compressed platinum (Pt) to HED conditions and conventional inverse Lagrangian analysis as well as a recent Bayesian calibration technique were used to determine the principal isentrope to 650 GPa with density uncertainties of <2%. These low uncertainties are calculated for single sample experiments, presenting the possibility of even smaller experimental uncertainties with multiple samples the platform allows. Our new platform extends the accessible Pt ramp pressures achievable on the Z machine to over 80% of the pressure recently achieved using the National Ignition Facility planar Hohlraum platform. This new capability, the next generation evolution of the stripline platform, was made possible by advancements in both our understanding of the Z pulsed power driver and our overall magnetohydrodynamic modeling capabilities.