Time-resolved x-ray diffraction from shock-compressed solids

Abstract

X-ray diffraction from dynamically compressed solids has been an area of active research for more than half a century. As early as 1950, Schall obtained submicrosecond, single-shot x-ray diffraction patterns of single crystals under dynamic deformation. Almost two decades later Q. Johnson and coworkers succeeded in obtaining diffraction patterns with an exposure time of tens of nanoseconds from an explosively shocked crystal, and were the first to demonstrate diffraction evidence for a shock induced phase transition. Over the past few years we have shown that even shorter exposure times can be achieved by using a laser-plasma as the source of x-rays, synchronous to a laser driven shock. In this paper we will review the progress made in this field, emphasising the potential applications fo time-resolved x-ray diffraction for addressing some of the fundamental problems of shock wave physics.