Department № 37 “Laser Physics” and № 69 “Physics of laser thermonuclear synthesis” employees have worked a unique laser diagnostic complex for measuring of shock waves speed in experiments on powerful laser facilities. The diagnostic complex base consists of 2 interferometers (Line-Imaging VISAR), which allow making of noncontact distant measuring of shock waves speed in substance or the speed of target surface in the range of 1-100 km/s with surface space resolution ~ 10 μm. The time resolution in measuring is 10 ps (10^-11 sec). Nowadays it’s the only measuring facility in Russia which allows getting time-continuous dependence of the substance surface speed under exposure of large radiation flows. It has been planned to use it in a new generation giant laser system in experiments on inertial thermonuclear fusion and equation of substances’ state in super-high pressure areas.

Extreme conditions appear under the impact of powerful shock, explosive and electroexplosive waves, strong laser radiation, electron and ion beams and in many other situations, characterized by extremely high pressures and temperatures.

The pressures and temperatures significantly exceed thermal strength limits of construction facilities materials, which leads to time limits of research objects existence in dynamic experiments. Specific times are determined by target substance dispersion dynamics and the range is ~ 10^-10-10^-5sec. If the energy deposition is less than the time of substance dispersion, there are practically no principal restrictions for maximum energy and pressure densities. Lately research of record-breaking high pressures has been conducted with the use of giant-pulse lasers which can make up to 1 mm³ per a few nanoseconds of pressure in the range up to 100 millibar (10⁸ atm) and more.

One of a few substance parameters available for measuring in such experiments is the speed of surface movement (for opaque media) or the speed of the shock front (for transparent media). Information about time dynamics and space varieties of the parameter helps research fundamental processes in a substance under extreme temperatures and pressures.

Below: arrangement of the laser diagnostic complex in 3D