Implosions: An experimental testbed for high energy density physics

The Nova laser facility has been used to produce matter in extreme conditions in the laboratory. The plasmas are produced by imploding spherical capsules filled with deuterium and trace amounts of Ar. A spectroscopic study of these indirectly driven, inertially confined plasmas provides measurements of the plasma parameters as a function of time. Multiple diagnostics measure peak n(e) similar to 1 x 10(24) cm(-3) and T-e similar to 1000 eV. A series of experiments have demonstrated that the results are reliable and reproducible. These experiments are designed to produce laboratory implosions that can serve as a "testbed" for high energy density matter. Measuring temperature gradients are the next step so that they can become sources suitable for studying physics such as high-density plasma effects or radiative cooling.