There is a state of matter called high-energy-density – or HED. Matter that is HED is usually extremely hot and at tremendous pressures – so hot and at such extreme pressures that molecules are broken apart and electrons are pulled off of atoms creating a plasma. At one extreme, HED plasmas may one day form the basis of ICF (inertial confinement fusion) where lasers blast tiny pellets to fuse their atoms, releasing energy that will provide green electricity. At the other extreme, HED plasmas exist in the cores of giant planets and are the source of energy of astrophysical phenomena.

In this video, Dr. Radha Bahukutumbi of the Laboratory for Laser Energetics at the University of Rochester, describes her and colleagues’ efforts in understanding and controlling HED plasmas through experiments and state-of-the-art computer simulations.