Extreme States of Matter (eBook)

Vladimir Fortov is one of Russia's leading physicists, a senior member of the Academy of Sciences, and a world expert on the topic of matter under extreme conditions. He has carried out many pioneering experiments, among others experimentally confirming the "plasma phase transitions" long predicted by eminent scientists such as Eugene Wigner, Lev Landau and Klaus von Klitzing. He was also in charge of experiments carried out aboard the MIR and ISS space stations.  

Preface 7
References 10
Contents 11
1 Introduction 13
References 16
2 Matter under Extreme Conditions: Classification of States 19
References 32
3 High Energy Densities in Laboratories 37
3.1 Main Lines of Research 37
3.2 Generators of High Energy Densities 41
3.3 Static Methods Using Diamond Anvils 51
3.4 Dynamic Methods 53
3.5 Light-Gas Guns or Chemical and Nuclear Explosions 59
3.6 Quasi-classical Model of a Substance 66
3.7 Devices of High-Current Impulse Energetics 73
References 79
4 High-Power Lasers in High-Energy-Density Physics 87
References 100
5 Relativistic Charged Particle Beams 109
5.1 Production of Macroscopic Hot Plasma Volumes 113
5.2 The Nuclear Matter Phase Diagram and Quark--Gluon Plasma 119
5.3 Low-Energy Scan Experiments with Heavy Ions at the NICA Collider 141
References 148
6 Technical Applications of the Physics of High Energy Densities 155
6.1 Laser Inertial Confinement Fusion 156
6.1.1 Direct Drive 156
6.1.2 Indirect Drive 162
6.1.3 Fast Ignition 165
6.2 Heavy-Ion Beam Fusion 168
6.3 Laser-Plasma Acceleration of Charged Particles 169
6.4 Free-Electron Lasers and Ultrashort High-Intensity Radiation Sources 179
6.5 Plasma in Accelerators 185
References 186
7 Astrophysical Aspects of High Energy Densities 197
7.1 Planets, Exoplanets, Substars, and White and Brown Dwarfs 202
7.2 Superextreme States: Neutron Stars, Black Holes, Magnetars, and Wormholes 236
7.3 Cosmic Jets, Radiative Shock Waves, and Molecular Clouds 263
7.4 Cosmic Rays 294
7.5 Gamma-Ray Bursts 298
7.6 Matter Transformation after the Big Bang 306
References 326
8 Conclusion 343
References 344