The use of lasers to induce extreme compression states has enabled the study of material properties and equations of state at unprecedented pressure and temperature conditions. By carefully designing the laser pulse shape (i.e. laser power vs time), one can compress and heat the sample to a specific state, allowing the investigation of the material phase diagram.
The combination of laser-driven compression and x-ray diagnostics allow us to probe these extreme pressure-temperature states in-situ, providing a unique picture of the transformations taking place in high-energy-density matter with important applications for geophysics and planetary science. Structural probes, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) have been developed at large laser facilities to investigate phase transitions and material properties at the nanosecond time scale.
In this talk, Dr. Coppari will present the results of recent experiments at the Omega laser facility (University of Rochester, NY) dedicated to the investigation of water ices and oxides compressed to the extreme conditions relevant to the mantle of ice giant and large terrestrial exoplanets. Coppari will discuss the experimental evidence for the occurrence of new phase transitions, providing key insights into the interior structure of these planets.