Bridging the pressure gap between pulsed power and laser facilities for equation of state platforms

High Energy Density Physics describes the behavior of matter under extreme conditions, with relevance to inertial fusion energy, planetary cores, and hypervelocity impacts. Understanding HED states and validating Equation of State (EoS) models relies on precise, low-error experiments. However, few facilities (often costly and oversubscribed) can access regimes above 1 TPa.

First Light Fusion (FLF) is developing an EoS platform based on proprietary hydrodynamic pressure amplifiers, which increase pressure via spatial and temporal convergence of shock waves. In collaboration with Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) through the Z Fundamental Science Program, FLF has demonstrated this technology’s ability to access previously unreachable states. At the STAR facility at SNL, our amplifiers enabled gas guns to exceed 1 TPa in quartz with a 15 ns hold over 0.75 mm, five times STAR’s previous limit. A modified design for hypervelocity flyer impact reached 3.67 TPa in quartz on the Z-Machine, with an 8 ns hold over 0.5 mm­—bridging the gap between laser- and flyer-driven platforms.

This talk will describe the development of the platform, focusing on its design via hydrodynamic simulation and optimization, and its potential to extend the range of states achievable at existing facilities.