I think the original purpose of the Z machine was to explore possibilities for nuclear fusion. That's what the guide said when we saw the facilities during a tour of the Sandia Labs when I interviewed there for a job.
Can you attach it to a tracked chassis?
Can you try?
It's an advertisement for the Z machine rather than planetary science as the funding cycle comes around to the feed-me point again.
sounds like a nifty device to lift payloads into orbit, a larger model of course.
In any case, I would like to get one for myself.
"Scientists at the Sandia National Labs in Albuquerque, New Mexico have accelerated a small plate from zero to 76,000 mph in less than a second. The speed of the thrust was a new record for Sandia’s “Z Machine” – not only the fastest gun in the West, but in the world, too."
Let's see what it does with a potato.
Phasers on stun...
It must consume huge amounts of power.
An understatment similar to claims that Rubik's Cube have "more than 3 million combinations."
If the acceleration is constant, the average velocity is half the total velocity, or 17 km/s. At that speed, it would take about 290 nS to go 5 mm - a bit under a third of a millionth of a second.
We must ban the z-machine right now. thinkwhat could happen if a child found one in their parents bedroom and shot a friend? Also this could become the weapon of choice for terrorists. If we can save only one child it would be worth it.
The U.S. Navy is working on a railgun or coil gun for its new DDX class of destroyers.