Overview

The Dynamic Compression Sector (located at Sector 35 on the APS experiment hall floor), with a focus on time-resolved X-ray diffraction and imaging measurements in materials subjected to dynamic compression, will provide in-situ, time-resolved, measurements at microscopic length scales to achieve a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms governing a broad range of time-dependent, condensed matter phenomena (structural transformations, inelastic deformation and fracture, and chemical reactions) under dynamic loading.  Such measurements are also essential for validating multi-scale modeling of the key materials phenomena under shock wave and shockless compression.

The energies (hard X-rays) and the time-structure (ns-separated pulses) of the APS X-rays are uniquely suited to examine time-dependent changes in materials subjected to a broad range of peak stresses (to well over 350 GPa) and time-durations (~5 ns to microsecond). The DCS, with an emphasis on condensed matter and materials science activities using a variety of dynamic compression platforms, will be an excellent complement to other national user facilities that emphasize static pressure materials response, warm dense matter response, and dense plasma response.

The Dynamic Compression Sector is an exciting and visionary scientific undertaking that integrates scientific/technical expertise across the DOE (NNSA and the Office of Science) to address both scientific and programmatic challenges.  Starting in 2016, the DCS will be available to national/international scientific users.