Raman Spectroscopy Diagnostic Development for Dynamic Compression Experiments on OMEGA*

The pressures reached in dynamic compression experiments are sufficient to disrupt the electronic structure of matter, often inducing chemical and physical transitions. These dynamic processes are not directly measured by existing diagnostics that rely on a material’s ability to scatter x rays. To this end, our work will develop a single-shot, nanosecond-scale Raman spectrometer for the OMEGA Laser System at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics. This diagnostic will measure the intensity and wavelength of a Raman-backscattered 266-nm probe from laser-compressed materials. This diagnostic will directly probe the evolution of bond character of materials at high-energy-density conditions. This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration under Award Number DE-NA0003856.