Here we discuss experiments that explore the acceleration of near solid density planar targets to extremely high speeds using a krypton fluoride laser. These velocities exceed those needed for even the highest velocity designs contemplated for inertial fusion implosions. Collisions of the high velocity targets provide a means to obtain pressures above 1 Gbar, a regime of interest to high energy density physics. The temperatures and pressures are high enough at 1000 km/s to produce thermonuclear neutrons when employing targets containing deuterium. The velocities reported here are to our knowledge the highest achieved by laser acceleration of material, and approach those thought to be needed for impact ignition.
