X-ray diffraction of materials under ramp compression on the Thor pulsed-power generator

Thor is a pulsed-power generator which uses magnetic loading to produce well-controlled ramp compression for high-pressure research of material response and equation-of-state. Thor has recently been configured with a compact x-ray diffraction (XRD) capability to allow investigation of atomic-scale response under dynamic compression, such as crystal lattice compression, onset of plastic flow, strength-strain rate dependence, structural phase transitions, and density of crystal defects such as dislocations. We describe our cost effective, compact x-ray source implementation and present ambient and dynamic data for several materials with solid-solid phase transformations in the 1 to 10 GPa pressure range (e.g. CdS, Zr). We have found the combination of magnetically-driven ramp compression with single, short-pulse XRD diagnostic to be a powerful new capability for the dynamic materials research.