Magnetically driven isentropic compression experiments on the Z accelerator

Isentropic compression experiments (ICE) have been performed on the Z accel erator facility at Sandia National Laboratory. We describe the experimental design that used large magnetic fields to slowly compress samples to press ures in excess of 400 kbar. Velocity wave profile measurements were analyze d to yield isentropic compression equations of state (EOS). The method can also yield material strength properties. We describe magnetohydronamic simu lations and results of experiments that used the ''square short'' configura tion to compress copper and discuss ICE EOS experiments that have been perf ormed with this method on tantalum, molybdenum, and beryllium. (C) 2001 Ame rican Institute of Physics.