Investigation of warm dense matter using time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy with third- and fourth- generation light sources

The advent of high-power lasers has provided insights into laboratory high energy density (>10¹¹ J/m³) physics. In particular, the properties of warm dense matter (WDM) with temperatures of 10⁴–10⁶ K and near-solid densities is a research area that has garnered significant interest recently. However, owing to the high temperatures and pressures associated with WDM, the measurement of fundamental properties is difficult, and insufficient data has been a significant setback in WDM research. Herein, we review recent developments in time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy with synchrotron and X-ray free electron lasers for WDM research. Various physical properties, such as atomic bonding, electronic structures, electron–phonon coupling, and thermal conductivity of various elements in WDM conditions are investigated via this noble X-ray technique at various time scales from 100 ps to 100 fs.