Introduction to High-Energy-Density Physics

Abstract

This book concerns itself with the physics of systems having high-energydensity. By high-energy-density systems, we refer to those having a pressure above one million atmospheres. The units of this pressure can be designated by 1 Mbar, 10¹¹ Pascals, 10¹¹ J/m³, 10¹² dynes/cm², or 10¹² ergs/cm³. We will tend to express the pressure in Mbars, as this is the most common of these units found in the relevant literature. This characterization was developed in a report of the National Academy of Sciences in the U.S., entitled Frontiers in High-Energy-Density Physics: the X-games of Contemporary Science. It reflects several observations. For example, one learned in school that solids and liquids are “incompressible”, but this is not strictly true. If one applies a pressure exceedin ~1 Mbar to ordinary solid matter, it compresses. Another way to make this point is to say that the internal energy of a hydrogen molecule is ~1 Mbar.