Inside the Most Powerful X-Ray Source in the World

Sandia’s Z machine is Earth’s most powerful pulsed-power facility and X-ray generator. Tour this massive facility to find out how it’s recreating the extreme conditions of the universe. The Z machine is designed to store energy and then compress it in time and space to achieve high energy densities. This means the Z machine can replicate the cosmos right here on Earth, allowing scientists to run a wide array of experiments giving researchers the ability to study everything from plasma to x-rays to neutrons and nuclear fusion. Expanding beyond weapons research to drive innovation in the fields of material science, renewable energy, and even helping redefine our very understanding of the universe. Courtesy of Sandia National Laboratory.