Matter in Extreme Conditions (MEC)

Matter in Extreme Conditions (MEC) is a department in the Science, Research, and Development division of LCLS. We support user experiments and instrument improvements on the MEC endstation of LCLS. Our research thrusts include fundamental properties of isochorically heated dense plasmas, ultrafast X-ray imaging of driven materials and plasmas, and high intensity laser-matter interactions. We perform experiments in these areas at MEC and other LCLS instruments, other FEL facilities, and high power laser facilities such as those in LaserNetUS. We are also involved in defining the scientific requirements of the MEC-U project.

Starting with Run 23, proposals to the MEC science area that address inertial fusion energy (IFE) priority research opportunities, as articulated in the 2022 IFE Basic Research Needs (BRN) Workshop Report, are strongly encouraged. Such proposals should be clearly indicated as addressing IFE and identify the relevant PROs from the BRN report. A sub panel of the MEC PRP, consisting of experts in IFE science, will review these proposals, alongside a sub panel for general MEC science.

Please feel free to reach out to the department head Gilliss Dyer, if you have any questions. We are interested in discussing your ideas for future experiments or joint projects.