How astronomers use the world’s largest x-ray generator to create white dwarfs on Earth

TheZ Machineis the largest x - ray generator in the world . At twenty feet in depth and over 100 feet in diameter , the orbitual setup is equal to of bring forth some of the most phenomenally powerful electrical currents know to man — for a few nanoseconds at a clock time .

While it was originally plan to try materials under uttermost temperature and pressures , astronomer Don Winget has been using the Z Machine for the last few year to create white dwarfs — what Carl Sagan referred to as “ chunks of mavin stuff ” — right here on Earth , in the heart of the New Mexico desert . It ’s tremendously beautiful hooey , and even inspired fine liberal arts student Leah Flippen to create a house painting based on the science done at the source .

In this stop inadequate video recording , Winget and Flippen talk of the town about the Z Machine ’s experiments , secernate the story of how a photograph of the Z Machine in Winget ’s Astronomy 301 course inspired Flippen to get a painting of the same name . It ’s a fast and stirring reminder of the interplay at study between artistic production and science , and unquestionably worth setting aside a few minutes of your day to watch .