Quick Shot
Assembling Targets Containing Sodium Metal for X-Ray Diffraction Experiments
August 28, 2017
University of Rochester Graduate Student, Danae Polsin (left) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Physicist, Amy Jenei, are shown here assembling AlkaliDiffEP targets containing sodium (Na) metal for x-ray diffraction experiments. The Na is sandwiched between single crystals of diamond (ablator) and lithium fluoride (window) in a dry argon atmosphere. The experiment will use the OMEGA EP Laser System to ramp compress the Na up to ~500 GPa. The powder-x-ray-diffraction image-plate (PXRDIP) diagnostic will be used to identify phase transitions and signatures of melting. The objective for these experiments is to obtain structural and electronic properties for an alkali metal at the highest pressures ever measured. This experiment will demonstrate a prototypical system to guide theory for examining ultra-dense matter beyond the Thomas–Fermi model.