High-resolution, quantitative measurements of instability growth in warm dense matter

Warm dense matter describes plasma at very high densities in which long-range coupling between particles cannot be ignored. Due to the difficulties in both creating and diagnosing such matter, the theory of its behavior is underdeveloped, yet it is pervasive throughout the universe. This proposal uses a unique combination of pulsed power to produce warm dense matter conditions, and the radiographic capabilities of ID19 to provide quantitative measurements of dynamics in these plasmas. We will significantly improve upon our initial research from 2018, measuring how the electrothermal instability could affect measurements of resistivity in dense plasmas, hoping to explain fundamental questions in conductivity modelling; explore how the Richtmyer Meshkov instability is affected by plasma density, which is key to Inertial Confinement Fusion; and in new experiments study how the Kelvin Helmholtz instability forms in counterpropagating plasma flows, like those observed in stellar outflows.