Z machine

The Z machine is the world’s largest X-ray generator.

Z-machine

For a few billionths of a second the Z machine uses 80 times the entire world’s electrical power output. The incredibly high voltage electromagnetic pulse this creates induces an electrical current in all the metallic objects in the room, creating the sparks in the photograph above.

The Z machine is used to study nuclear fusion and recently created a plasma with a temperature of more than 2 billion degrees celsius, hotter than the interior of the Sun.

8 thoughts on “Z machine

  1. where does it get the electricity to use 80 times the world’s electrical power output?

  2. It gets power from the electricity grid over a long period, stores it up, then uses it in a billionth of a second.

  3. so do all the objects in the room have to be earthed or whatever before it can be used agen?

    or else ur bling mite get attached to the floor…

  4. I don’t think you’d want to be around when it was operating. And yes, everything in the room is properly earthed.

  5. I’m guessing it would hurt if you jumped into it?

    Also, what’s the point of it??

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