X-ray Thomson scattering measurement in shock-compressed beryllium

We have measured x-ray scattering spectra of shock-compressed beryllium. In these studies, 6 keV x-rays have been produced to perform spectrally resolved measurements of the plasmas employing both non-collective and collective scattering at the Omega laser facility. Laser beams with intensities of 1014<I<1015 Wcm-2 and 3-4 ns pulse width have irradiated beryllium to launch a strong shock and compress the target homogeneously. The x-ray scattering measurements of the shock-compressed matter have shown inelastic Compton and Plasmon scattered spectra indicating a dense Fermi-degenerate plasma state with a Fermi energy above 30 eV with temperatures in the range of 10-15 eV. These findings reflect compression by a factor of 3 in agreement with radiation-hydrodynamic modeling.