Initial high repetition rate compression experiments using the DIPOLE Laser at the European XFEL

The generation of high-energy-density matter by compression via nanosecond laser-ablation, with subsequent x-ray probing with FEL radiation, is a well established technique. However, hitherto, data collection rates have been limited to many minutes by the repetition rates of the optical drivers. We report here on the first user experiment using the 100-J class DIPOLE laser at the HED instrument of the European FEL, where x-ray diffraction data from shocked materials was obtained at rates up to 1 Hz, along with VISAR data at comparative rates. Illustrative examples of data for a variety of materials will be presented, including shocking matter into the warm dense liquid state.