Dynamic Compression Experiments at GEKKO XII*

The high-energy lasers of GEKKO XII at the Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, have been used for high energy density physics and inertial confinement fusion research for the past 40 years. By offering a >1 kJ combined laser energy of all 12 beams on target, the facility routinely reaches pressures exceeding 1TPa in shock compressed materials. For the observations, Velocity Interferometer Systems for Any Reflector (VISAR) and Streaked Optical Pyrometer (SOP) are installed permanently and used routinely for Hugoniot measurements. The first half of this talk will focus on introducing the capabilities and recent developments of shock characterization diagnostics available at the facility. We will then present recent experimental results of shocked diamond [1] performed at GEKKO XII.