Pulsed power experiments in hydrodynamics and material properties

In the last five years, a new application of high-performance pulsed power techniques within the Stockpile Stewardship Program has joined the traditio nal family of radiation source applications. This new application uses low- impedance, high-current drivers to produce high-energy density environments in materials for the study of material properties, instabilities, and hydr odynamics in complex geometries. The principle tool for producing high-ener gy density environments is the high-precision, magnetically imploded, near- solid density liner. The most attractive pulsed power system for driving su ch experiments is an ultrahigh current, low-impedance, microsecond rise-tim e source that is economical both to build and to operate. In this paper we will review basic scaling arguments that set the scope of high-energy density environments made available by pulsed power-driven line rs. We provide a summary of some investigations into the physics limiting t he performance of near-solid metal liners under magnetic drive. We mill pre sent a fell examples of hydrodynamic experiments enabled by liners drive an d note some demonstration experiments already performed with inter im syste ms. Finally, me will overview the pulsed power techniques under development at Los Alamos for high-energy density experiments.