X-ray thomson scattering measurements of warm dense matter.

Warm dense matter exists at the boundary between traditional condensed matter and plasma physics and poses significant challenges to theoretical understanding. It is also critical for applications, including z-pinch and inertial fusion laboratory experiments and in astrophysical objects such as white dwarfs and giant planet interiors. The modern generation of high energy density facilities has made it possible to create warm dense conditions in the laboratory. Creating warm dense matter is challenging, but thorough understanding also requires accurate detailed diagnostics. This report describes research aimed at combining x-ray Thomson scattering, a powerful diagnostic for warm dense matter, with extreme environments created at the Z facility. Significant advances in in-house Sandia capability have been achieved, including x-ray scattering theory, instrumentation, and experiment design, execution, and interpretation. This work has set the stage for novel x-ray scattering investigations of warm dense matter at the Z facility in the near future.