New experimental methods using high-energy lasers includingthe National Ignition Facility (NIF) are allowing extremely high pressures to be applied to solids.  While pressures up to several million atmospheres (Mbar) causelarge changes in valance-electron bonding and the structure of solids, it has long been postulated that pressures high enough to cause core electrons to interact and hybridize would evolve a new type of extreme chemistry. The emerging laser-driven experiments, with their potential to study solids at 10's or 100's of Mbar, may revolve around elucidating the nature of this extreme chemistry.  I will report on recent materials studies performed atthe Omega laser at the University of Rochester and the NIF at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory that have recently pushed the study of equation of state and structure of solids to tens of Mbar.

Novel chemistry at the National Ignition Facility

242nd National Meeting (2011)

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