International Collaborations on High Energy Density Matter

高能量密度物质是一个令人兴奋的研究领域，因为它结合了基础，天体物理和能源研究。在实验室中创造这样的物质是非常困难的，因为它是在巨大的压力下，在大量的能量沉积后（通常超过1兆巴或100万倍的压力，我们的大气）。然而，如此大的压力自然存在于巨行星的内部（例如，木星、土星和太阳系外的许多行星）和恒星内部。因此，提高我们在高能量密度物理学方面的知识，增加了我们对宇宙及其发展的理解。需要高能量密度物理学的最令人兴奋的技术应用是通过惯性聚变能产生能量。使恒星的能量来源适用于能源生产的一种方法是将燃料压缩1000倍，同时将其加热到1000万度以上。这种方法目前正在美国利弗莫尔的国家点火设施进行测试。这项新能源一旦成功，将彻底改变我们的现代世界，但首次成功和进一步优化将需要对高能量密度物质的更好理解。本项目将从三个方面解决这些问题：首先，申请人将参与美国斯坦福大学的一项高能量密度物质实验，该实验使用了全新的X射线激光LCLS。在这里，我们（一个由英国领导的大型国际合作组织）将测试碳在超快能量沉积下的熔化和进一步加热。其次，它结合了在沃里克所做的理论工作和利弗莫尔实验小组的专业知识。在这里，将讨论如何在实验室中诊断这种奇异的物质状态的问题。第三，当前聚变研究中的问题（特别是热传输和分布）将得到解决。申请人和利弗莫尔的模拟小组将讨论如何在模拟真实的聚变实验所需的大型计算机模型中实现沃里克开发的新模型。这可以为英国和美国在能源研究方面的重要联系奠定基础。

High energy density matter is an exciting research field as it combines fundamental, astrophysical and energy research. The creation of such matter in the laboratory is very difficult as it is under enormous pressure after large amounts of energy are deposited (usually above 1 Megabar or 1 million times the pressure of our atmosphere). However, such large pressures naturally exist in the interior of giant planets (e.g., Jupiter, Saturn and many planets outside our solar system) and inside stars. Thus, enhancing our knowledge in high energy density physics increases our understanding of the universe and its development. The most exciting technical application that needs high energy density physics is energy production by means of inertial fusion energy. One way to make the energy source of the stars applicable for energy production is to compress the fuel 1000 times while heating it to over 10 million degrees. This approach is currently tested at the National Ignition Facility in Livermore, USA. When successful, this new energy source can revolutionise our modern world, but the first success as well as further optimisation will require an improved understanding of high energy density matter.The present project will address these problems in three ways: Firstly, the applicant will participate in an experiment on high energy density matter which uses the brand-new x-ray laser LCLS in Stanford, USA. Here, we (a large, UK-led international collaboration) will test the melting and further heating of carbon under ultra-fast energy deposition. Secondly, it combines the theoretical work done at Warwick with the expertise of the experimental team in Livermore. Here, the question of how such exotic states of matter can be diagnosed in the laboratory will be discussed. Thirdly, current issues in fusion research (especially heat transport and distribution) will be addressed. The applicant and the simulation group in Livermore will discuss how new models developed in Warwick can be implemented in the large computer models that are needed to simulate real fusion experiments. This can lay the ground for a very important UK-US connection on energy research.