December 5 Seminar: Sal Portillo

December 5, 2025

Boom! Squish! Dynamic Compression via Pulsed Power: A Primer On The How and The Why Of Experimental Shock Physics and Matter at Extremes

Sal Portillo, UNM

3:00 pm, UNM Centennial Engineering Center, Room 1026
Online Guests: Contact Prof. Santhanam <bsanthan@unm.edu> for a Zoom link

Abstract: Dynamic compression of materials yields thermodynamic properties and response to different loading conditions. These conditions mimics those found in astrophysics, ballistic shocks and certain fusion applications. By measuring the particle and wave velocities we can get an understanding of the pressure and temperature as a function of volume and density. Which in turn can be used to develop a predictive equation that explains the behavior of the material.

This talk is a primer on how to use pulsed power to generate magnetic pressures that can launch a dynamic compression wave into a material, directly or via physical impact to generate different loading conditions. So, we will describe our pulsed power accelerator, the experimental set up of how the magnetic forces are generated and we will then give a description on the laser diagnostics we use to measure the particle velocities in the sample. And finally, we will talk about one application that our laboratory is very much interested in, that is a set of materials, related to inertial confinement fusion and isentropic compression.

Bio: Dr. Salvador Portillo Received his Ph.D. in Physics from Texas Christian University in 2003 focused on atomic physics and accelerator science. At UNM, as a research professor, he has established a laboratory designing and building pulsed power accelerators, experimental high energy density physics, time resolved plasma and x-ray diagnostics, shock physics as well as the development of long pulse, frequency agile electromagnetic (HPM) sources for electronic effects. Dr. Portillo also has a nascent programs on the physics of inertial confinement fusion and on laboratory astrophysics.