Fundamental Research in High Energy Density Science

High energy density (HED) science has critical applications for society from fusion energy to sustaining the US nuclear deterrent, while also contributing to broader scientific questions such as understanding planets and their origins.


The next decade of HED science will be instrumental to growing our understanding and in the development of new technologies and processes. Fundamental Research in High Energy Density Science identifies key challenges and science questions for the field for the coming decade and proposes ways to address them.


Table of Contents


Front Matter
Executive Summary
1 High Energy Density Science: Understanding Matter at Extremes
2 Recent Progress and Opportunities
3 Opportunities and Grand Challenges
4 Human Capacity
5 International Aspects of High Energy Density Science
Appendixes
Appendix A: Approaches to Inertial Confinement Fusion
Appendix B: Tools of High Energy Density Science
Appendix C: Examples of High Energy Density Experimental Facilities
in the United States
Appendix D: List of All Report Recommendations
Appendix E: Committee Activities
Appendix F: Requests Sent to National Laboratories
Appendix G: Committee Biographies