Sandia’s 'Z Machine' Exceeds 2 Billion Degrees Kelvin
Sandia's Z machine firing. The "arcs and sparks" formed at the
water-air interface travel between metal conductors.
Image source: Sandia Natioanl Labs / Randy Montoya
water-air interface travel between metal conductors.
Image source: Sandia Natioanl Labs / Randy Montoya
Via Sandia National Labs.
Sandia’s Z machine has produced plasmas that exceed temperatures of 2 billion degrees Kelvin — hotter than the interiors of stars.More here.
The unexpectedly hot output, if its cause were understood and harnessed, could eventually mean that smaller, less costly nuclear fusion plants would produce the same amount of energy as larger plants.
The phenomena also may explain how astrophysical entities like solar flares maintain their extreme temperatures.
The very high radiation output also creates new experimental environments to help validate computer codes responsible for maintaining a reliable nuclear weapons stockpile safely and securely — the principle mission of the Z facility.
posted by Fergie @ 3/08/2006 12:44:00 PM
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