Rochester recognized as leader in high-energy-density physics

Three of eight national research grants recently awarded by the Department of Energy were given to researchers at the University of Rochester, which is home to the largest university-based DOE research program in the nation.

Image Credit: University of Rochester photo / J. Adam Fenster

Matter behaves very differently at extreme temperatures and pressures. Although extreme matter doesn’t exist naturally on the earth, it’s very common in the universe, especially in the deep interiors of planets and stars. Understanding how atoms react under high-pressure conditions—a field known as high-energy-density physics (HEDP)—can lead to the creation of new materials and give scientists valuable insights into the fields of astrophysics, energy, and national security.

Recognizing the importance of high-energy-density science, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) recently selected eight national projects in high-energy-density physics to be awarded a total of $3.5 million. Three of the eight awards were given to researchers at the University of Rochester.

“The recent notification of the awards in high-energy-density physics demonstrates the quality and impact of research at the University and the Laser Lab,” says Michael Campbell, director of Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE). “HEDP is a growing and important field of research and the University of Rochester is a recognized world leader. We are grateful to the Department of Energy for selecting these outstanding proposals.”

The three projects were awarded to researchers at the LLE and the University of Rochester Department Physics and Astronomy.

Read the full article here.