The performance of materials in dynamics extremes, also known as compression science, is vital to a broad spectrum of engineering and defense applications related to Los Alamos National Laboratory's national security science mission.
In addition to supporting the certification of our nuclear stockpile in the absence of underground testing and a broad spectrum of engineering and defense applications, compression science has altered our view of the material world around us. The discovery of unexpected physical and chemical phenomena and new materials through the application of compression science techniques has led to a new and refined understanding of the nature of chemical bonding in extreme environments. It is clear, however, that many important aspects regarding the response of materials to compressive loading are still not understood, let alone modeled in a predictive mode. As a result, we have not derived the many benefits that a predictive understanding would bring.
To enable the transformation from the present era of observation to that of control of material's functionality and performance, new scientific tools are needed. MaRIE's MPDH will enable multiple, simultaneous measurements at the micron frontier to address a variety of compelling applications, such as in situ, real-time, three dimensional, experimental microstructural quantification in extreme environments, multiscale fluid dynamics, or extreme electromagnetic field interactions with matter. Such measurements allow discovery of mechanisms and validation of simulations.