Two Billion Degrees Kelvin Illusion?

When the results of the experiment were analyzed the Z-machine had generated a temperature in excess of two billion degrees Kelvin. The scientist's first impression was total disbelief.

"At first, we were disbelieving," said project leader Chris Deeney. "We repeated the experiment many times to make sure we had a true result."

3.6 billion degrees Fahrenheit is hotter then the interior of our sun which punched the thermometer at a cool 15 million degrees Kelvin. The kicker in all this is that it seems that the energy out was more then was put in, plus the temperature was sustained 10 nanoseconds longer then should have been possible. They don't know why but they think something new is going on here. (read more)

Sandia's Z machine firing
The "“arcs and sparks"” formed at the
water-air interface travel between
metal conductors.
Photo by Randy Montoya
used w/permission

Tags: science,photos,zmachine,art