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Fundamental Science on the Z Facility at Sandia National Laboratories

Explore key astrophysics questions through laboratory z-pinch experiments at Sandia National Laboratories. Address discrepancies in models for Cepheid variable pulsation and modern solar models. Investigate the formation of giant planets, astrophysical jets, radiation influences on shocks, and more. Join a collaborative fundamental science program with allocated time for outside users.

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Fundamental Science on the Z Facility at Sandia National Laboratories

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  1. S a n d i a N a t i o n a l L a b o r a t o r i e s December 15, 2011 HEDLP Fundamental Science on the Z Facility Keith Matzen Sandia National Laboratories

  2. Key astrophysics questions can be addressed with laboratory z-pinch experiments Why did models for Cepheid variable pulsation disagree with observations? Why do modern solar models disagree with measurements? Did the giant planets form by accretion onto a solid massive core? Do photoionized plasma observations carry information about matter in the strong field limit of general relativity? How do astrophysical jets form and evolve? How does radiation influence astrophysical shocks? The foundation for significant advances has been established. We are poised to capitalize on the investment.

  3. We have established a fundamental science program on Z and have allocated time to outside users • External committee chaired by A. Wootton performed peer review • 1 proposal received 8 days in CY2011 • 3 proposals were awarded 20 shot days in calendar year 2012 • 3 proposals were also awarded ride along time • Proposals address exciting scientific issues: • Do we understand the structure of the sun? • Can we use white dwarfs as cosmic chronometers? • How does the accretion disk around a black-hole behave? • What is the structure of the planets in our solar system (and beyond)? • How did the Earth and the Moon form? Earth formation Harvard Photo-ionized plasma UNR, LLNL Solar/White Dwarf Opacities SNL, U. Texas Austin Planetary structure U. Rostok, SNL

  4. convective zone 1.0 radiative zone 0.8 core 0.6 0.4 Mg XI 0.2 2007 Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 0.0 15.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 11.0 12.0 13.0 14.0 Laboratory opacity measurements at stellar interior temperatures are possible for the first time Predictions of solar structure do not agree with observations Solar structure depends on opacities that have never been measured Z experiments measure opacities at solar interior temperatures for the first time (T= 1,700,000 ºK) Fe + Mg transmission transmission Fe XVI-XX l (Angstroms)

  5. We have established a fundamental science program on Z and have allocated time to outside users • All proposals are part of collaboration with Sandia and there is significant involvement by SNL experimentalists and theorists • Annual meeting to discuss fundamental science work on Z • typically late July

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