Development of a Nanosecond Raman Spectroscopy Platform to Diagnose Temperature and Chemistry in HED Matter*

High-energy-density (HED) conditions are characterized by pressures exceeding ~100 GPa, where the pressure-volume work associated compression is comparable to the energies of chemical bonds. In this regime, exotic and unexplored chemistry occurs as materials behave unexpectedly compared to their nature at ambient conditions. Raman spectroscopy is a powerful tool for diagnosing pressure-induced changes in chemical bonding (e.g., bond strengthening, dissociation) in HED matter, but is a challenge for laser-driven experiments stemming from the short nanosecond time scales and small submillimeter sample sizes. We discuss plans to overcome these challenges and to develop a nanosecond UV (266 nm) Raman spectroscopy diagnostic for OMEGA to study chemistry and temperature of dynamically compressed matter.