Possible applications of the ion beams technique for investigations in the field of equation of state

The shock wave generation through the interaction of a high-power ion beam with condensed targets is considered with a goal to reveal possible ways to study the equations of state of matter using ion beams. The equation of state is thought about in an extended interpretation including the relaxation processes, such as phase transitions, chemical reactions, and stress relaxation. Advantages of the beam-driven generation of the high-energy states and possible areas of competition with more conventional technique are discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.