Investigation of thermophysical and mechanical properties of matter under extremal conditions

The main results of experimental studies performed during the last ten years at the General Physics Institute, the Russian Academy of Sciences, on the properties of matter under extremal conditions created with the help of high-power laser radiation are presented. The problems associated with temperature measurements of the material behind the shock-wave front are discussed. The results of experimental studies of the mechanical properties of matter under conditions of ultrahigh deformation rates are presented. Examples of efficient application of numerical simulation for studying the mechanical and hydrodynamic processes occurring in matter subjected to high-power laser irradiation are given.