The Z Machine is usually used to simulate nuclear weapon detonations
'As an astronomer, I am used to looking at stars from light-years away,' says Don Winget of the University of Texas at Austin. 'So it was a remarkable moment the first time we took a measurement
froma distance of just 5 centimeters.'
The 'star' was recreated in a high-energy facility usually used to simulate nuclear weapon detonations - which fires 26 million amps of current through a container of hydrogen to simulate the hellish 10,000-degree surface of a white dwarf star.
The 'Z Machine' was built to simulate nuclear weapon detonations, but now devotes around 15 per cent of its time to experiments such as the star simulation, reports Inside Science. The machine produces huge amounts of energy - enough to melt diamonds.
It has generated temperatures of 3.7 billion Kelvins, the highest ever created by humankind, including the centre of hydrogen bomb explosions.
It also routinely generates electrical power equivalent to 80 times Earth's total power output.
In the 'white dwarf' experiment, researchers simulated the 'spectrum' of a white dwarf's surface by firing 26 million amps of electricity through tungsten wires, which vapourises them, releasing X-rays.
When the X-rays hit a container of hydrogen gas, it ionises and reaches a temperature of around 10,000 degrees centigrade, to recreate the conditions on the surface of a star.
Winget's team have been experimenting with the Z Machine since 2010.
'Everyone assumes we know hydrogen so well,' Winget said. 'As it turns out, that's not the case.'
When the Z Machine fires, 36 cables - each with the same girth as a horse's torso - fire simultaneously, triggered by laser switches. The cables, insulated by water, fire a pulse of 50 trillion watts into a target the size of a spool of thread.
While the Z machine can generate an extraordinary pulse of energy, it only does so for a tiny fraction of a second - the power used is only enough to provide electricity for 100 houses for two minutes, and is supplied by the local electricity company via a wall socket.
mailonline .
GMT 14:11 2018 Tuesday ,11 December
Cosmonauts will use special water during long space missionsGMT 15:32 2018 Monday ,03 December
Russian spacecraft with new crew gets into near-Earth orbitGMT 16:21 2018 Tuesday ,27 November
Russia ranks fourth worldwide for number of scientistsGMT 13:32 2018 Monday ,19 November
Launch of first Jordanian nano- satellite dubbed (JYI-SAT) postponedGMT 11:12 2018 Thursday ,15 November
China Focus: Scientists warn of less water supply over melting glacier after 2060GMT 14:02 2018 Saturday ,27 October
Russian scientists to create new composite materials for spacecraft enginesGMT 16:19 2018 Tuesday ,23 October
Failed launch of Soyuz-FG did not pause probe into hole in Soyuz MS-09 spacecraftGMT 19:55 2018 Monday ,22 October
China quickly embracing VR glasses amid technology boomMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor