High energy density matter

A conference on this subject was hosted by Dr. Andrew Ng in Vancouver, British Columbia, May 1996, to discuss radiation driven shocks, interaction of ultra-short laser pulses with matter, new diagnostic techniques for dense plasma experiments and ultrafast processes, theory and numerical simulations. Short-wavelength lasers were used as primary sources of energy in the discussed experiments. Applications of the basic physics of high energy density states of matter were illustrated by examples from inertial confinement fusion (ICF), equation of state (EOS), atomic physics, plasma opacity and transport studies, short-wavelength radiation generation and astrophysics. For the purpose of this summary we have approximately divided the presentations into five subject categories: (1) radiation driven shocks, (2) ultrashort laser pulse solid interactions at low and moderate intensities, (3) short laser pulse interactions at high intensities I > 1018 W/cm2, (4) diagnostic techniques for dense plasma experiments and ultrafast processes, (5) laboratory astrophysics. (author)