3/14/2006: Z Machine

Undertoad · 03-14-2006, 10:59 AM

Two of the largest images ever yet on IotD, and two more images that really challenge the JPG format. Suggested by xoB from yesterday's APoD.

This is the Z Machine, which recently created the hottest man-made temperature ever. Unexpectedly.

And it's not operated by some evil overlord, but by Sandia National Laboratories. The machine, according to the APoD...

Quote:

purposely creates high temperatures by focusing 20 million amps of electricity into a small region further confined by a magnetic field. Vertical wires give the Z Machine its name.

Huh. Well let's try Wikipedia:

Quote:

The machine operates by releasing an electrical pulse and associated magnetic field. The energy from a 20-million-ampere electrical discharge vaporizes an array of thin tungsten wires and a powerful magnetic field crushes the ensuing plasma. The collapsing plasma produces X-rays which create a shock wave that bears on the material being tested. The powerful fluctuation in the magnetic field (or "electromagnetic pulse") also generates electric current in all of the metallic objects in the room (see picture at right).

So how'd it make that hot temperature?

Quote:

In 2006, the Z Machine produced plasmas with temperatures in excess of 2 GK (109 K) or 3.6 billion oF. Project scientists were doubtful about the results, but after fourteen months of computer modeling and further tests, they have concluded that the results are, indeed, valid. It is believed the high temperature plasmas were achieved by using a slightly larger spool of wires with thicker steel wires substituted for the usual tungsten wires.

So all the sparky bits are just a side-effect of the real thing going on in the center.

But it's purty, ain't it?

Trilby · 03-14-2006, 11:57 AM

This is cool. Doc Ock's fusion machine was cooler, though.

RaisenOx · 03-14-2006, 01:30 PM

Just for a reference on how hot 2*10^9 K really is,
the core of our sun is estimated to be at 1.36*10^7 K

Elspode · 03-14-2006, 01:43 PM

Its about time Science found a reliable method to dispose of those pesky tungsten and steel wires...

Promenea · 03-14-2006, 01:54 PM

What fascinated me in the original article is that the temps were higher than they calculated possible with the amount of matter within the test chamber. One guy said something to the effect that there must have been more matter than they could account for. If so, where'd it come from? Anyone missing some socks or small animals?

RaisenOx · 03-14-2006, 02:26 PM

"Technician Dolores Graham uses tweezers to build an array of wires, each 1/10 the diameter of a human hair, that form a target about the size of a spool of thread (between horizontal metal rings) for Sandia's huge Z accelerator."

<a href="http://www.sandia.gov/media/images/jpg/Z01.jpg"><img src="http://www.sandia.gov/media/images/Z01.gif"> click to enlarge 928K</a>

That one little array of wires causes all that fuss.

Kagen4o4 · 03-14-2006, 02:33 PM

welcome RaisenOx!!! good to see someone else that can quote the internal temperature of the Sun.
saw this one a couple of days ago, its now the background to my windows.

all i can think is. "everybody in the pool!!"

RaisenOx · 03-14-2006, 02:47 PM

Thanks for the welcome Kagen. I've been lurking around for a couple of months now, but finally decided to start posting today. I'm still orienting myself here, I guess html works in the forums but doesn't show up on the blog.

Elspode · 03-14-2006, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Promenea

What fascinated me in the original article is that the temps were higher than they calculated possible with the amount of matter within the test chamber. One guy said something to the effect that there must have been more matter than they could account for. If so, where'd it come from? Anyone missing some socks or small animals?

Oxygen? Nitrogen? Trace gases?

You'd think that they'd have accounted for that, though. Maybe they're vaporizing more of the supporting structure than they think.

Happy Monkey · 03-14-2006, 03:24 PM

They opened a portal to hell, and an unlucky demon poked his head through.

Kagen4o4 · 03-14-2006, 04:22 PM

yeah i dont think even a demon could withstand 10^9 K.

id be a little worried about the people making this thing. i wouldnt want to hear after they turned that thing on "ooo, that was a little hotter than we expected". imagine if they built one bigger and more powerful in the first place to get to one billion K. imagine how hot that would have been!!!

Pancake Man · 03-14-2006, 04:41 PM

Quote:

They opened a portal to hell, and an unlucky demon poked his head through

And now I'm the only one who can stop the invasion

... Cept I ain't going near that machine!

busterb · 03-14-2006, 06:05 PM

Nanowires? No link. hunt the damn thing.

Relisnhoj · 03-14-2006, 06:38 PM

Things like this make me wonder when someone is going to "Unexpectedly" do something extremely dangerous and kill us all...

Kagen4o4 · 03-14-2006, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Relisnhoj

Things like this make me wonder when someone is going to "Unexpectedly" do something extremely dangerous and kill us all...

like when the US government knew there was a slight chance that the atom bomb could ignite the oxygen in the atmosphere and incinerate the earth in a matter of minutes. it was a very very small chance but a very very very big risk.

03-14-2006, 11:57 AM	#2
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	This is cool. Doc Ock's fusion machine was cooler, though. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

03-14-2006, 01:43 PM	#4
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Its about time Science found a reliable method to dispose of those pesky tungsten and steel wires... __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

03-14-2006, 02:26 PM	#6
RaisenOx Non-Newbie Sort Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 6	"Technician Dolores Graham uses tweezers to build an array of wires, each 1/10 the diameter of a human hair, that form a target about the size of a spool of thread (between horizontal metal rings) for Sandia's huge Z accelerator." <a href="http://www.sandia.gov/media/images/jpg/Z01.jpg"><img src="http://www.sandia.gov/media/images/Z01.gif"><br>click to enlarge <i>928K</i></a> That one little array of wires causes all that fuss. Last edited by RaisenOx; 03-14-2006 at 02:49 PM.

03-14-2006, 03:24 PM	#10
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	They opened a portal to hell, and an unlucky demon poked his head through. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

03-14-2006, 06:05 PM	#13
busterb NSABFD Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: MS. usa Posts: 3,908	Nanowires? No link. hunt the damn thing. __________________ I've haven't left very deep footprints in the sands of time. But, boy I've left a bunch.

03-14-2006, 01:30 PM	#3
RaisenOx Non-Newbie Sort Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 6	Just for a reference on how hot 210^9 K really is, the core of our sun is estimated to be at 1.3610^7 K

03-14-2006, 01:54 PM	#5
Promenea Resident President Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 86	What fascinated me in the original article is that the temps were higher than they calculated possible with the amount of matter within the test chamber. One guy said something to the effect that there must have been more matter than they could account for. If so, where'd it come from? Anyone missing some socks or small animals?

03-14-2006, 02:33 PM	#7
Kagen4o4 The Sheriff of Nothingland Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Melbourne, Aus Posts: 1,794	welcome RaisenOx!!! good to see someone else that can quote the internal temperature of the Sun. saw this one a couple of days ago, its now the background to my windows. all i can think is. "everybody in the pool!!"

03-14-2006, 02:47 PM	#8
RaisenOx Non-Newbie Sort Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 6	Thanks for the welcome Kagen. I've been lurking around for a couple of months now, but finally decided to start posting today. I'm still orienting myself here, I guess html works in the forums but doesn't show up on the blog.

03-14-2006, 04:22 PM	#11
Kagen4o4 The Sheriff of Nothingland Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Melbourne, Aus Posts: 1,794	yeah i dont think even a demon could withstand 10^9 K. id be a little worried about the people making this thing. i wouldnt want to hear after they turned that thing on "ooo, that was a little hotter than we expected". imagine if they built one bigger and more powerful in the first place to get to one billion K. imagine how hot that would have been!!!

03-14-2006, 06:38 PM	#14
Relisnhoj Ender of Vendors Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 44	Things like this make me wonder when someone is going to "Unexpectedly" do something extremely dangerous and kill us all... __________________ "The problem with the world is stupidity. Not saying there should be capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?" ~Frank Zappa

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