Ultrashort x-ray technology to probe the heart of planets

Space scientists have developed a sophisticated combination of super-powerful lasers together with very bright x-rays, enabling new experiments to be conducted that can gaze into the inner heart of other planets.

The technology is rapid, requiring a single x-ray flash in order to capture key data relating to highly dense and very hot matter, like the conditions found inside gas giant planets or on the outer crusts of dead stars. This type of matter that an equivalent density to a solid; however, it can have temperatures up to 10,000 degrees Celsius. The technology can also be applied to furthering understanding of nuclear fusion experiments, where researchers are attempting to recreate the energy of the Sun as an alternative form of energy. […]

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Curated by Theresa Wysocki

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