Matter at Extreme Conditions

Matter at Extreme Conditions

Colleges: CAS

The Institute for Shock Physics (ISP) – building on 60 plus years of sustained excellence in research and graduate education in shock wave science – is a multidisciplinary, multi-location (Pullman, WA; Spokane, WA; Argonne, IL) research organization with a focus on understanding materials response at extreme pressures and temperatures (shock.wsu.edu). This knowledge is central to fundamental advances in several academic disciplines (physics, chemistry, geo/planetary science, materials science, and engineering) and to applications involving national security, advanced materials including additive manufacturing, space technology, and energy. The Institute – widely recognized as the academic leader in the field – has strong partnerships with academic institutions (Princeton, Caltech, and Stanford) and national laboratories (Sandia, Los Alamos, Livermore, and Army and Navy Laboratories). Working with several partners, the Institute led a five year effort to establish the Dynamic Compression Sector (DCS) at the Advanced Photon Source /Argonne National Laboratory – a first-of-its-kind (worldwide) national user facility sponsored by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) of the Department of Energy (DOE) – dedicated to understanding the response of shock compressed materials at the atomistic level using synchrotron-based x-ray measurements. Research activities at the DCS (dcs-aps.wsu.edu) – managed/operated by the Institute – are providing discovery class results in a broad range of scientific disciplines and making valuable contributions to important national security programs. The ISP/Applied Sciences Laboratory (ASL) in Spokane is a contract research organization with a focus on applied research, technology transfer, and corporate partnerships (asl.wsu.edu). ASL activities – related to national security, energy, advanced materials/sensors, and biomedical applications – are providing visibility for the region and opportunities for entrepreneurial faculty to undertake new ventures. The Institute is nationally recognized as a model for integrating research, education, and national interests. The exceptional achievements and leadership by students, faculty, and alumni in understanding matter at extreme conditions are contributing significantly to WSU’s leadership in research and graduate education.