Magnetically driven isentropic compression experiments on the Z accelerator

Isentropic compression experiments (ICE) have been performed on the Z accelerator facility at Sandia National Laboratory. We describe the experimental design that used large magnetic fields to slowly compress samples to pressures in excess of 400 kbar. Velocity wave profile measurements were analyzed to yield isentropic compression equations of state (EOS). The method can also yield material strength properties. We describe magnetohydronamic simulations and results of experiments that used the ''square short'' configuration to compress copper and discuss ICE EOS experiments that have been performed with this method on tantalum, molybdenum, and beryllium. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.