Sandia National Laboratories pitches a 10x larger successor to the Z machine to Congress

Key points

• The Z machine uses 2,160 capacitors arranged in 36 Marx banks to generate up to 20 megajoules of energy per shot.
• Each shot lasts approximately 100 nanoseconds, delivering 26 million amps and peaking at 80 terawatts of electrical power.
• The machine fires roughly 200 times annually, with each shot causing a 'mini earthquake' felt in the adjacent Sandia Mountains.
• Sandia is pitching a successor 10 times larger to the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to achieve higher densities and pressures.
• No cost estimate, site location, or timeline has been released for the proposed successor, which would require Congressional funding.
• The Z machine is used to test nuclear weapon components without detonation and supports fusion research, including the MagLIF program.

Background

The Z machine has been a cornerstone of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile maintenance program since the 1960s, allowing researchers to simulate radiation environments without actual detonations. Albuquerque also hosts Pacific Fusion, a private company building a similar pulsed-power machine, highlighting the city's growing role in high-energy physics research.

Why it matters

If approved and funded, the successor would significantly enhance the U.S. ability to maintain and test nuclear weapons stockpiles without live detonations, potentially reshaping national security infrastructure for decades. However, the lack of published details suggests the project is in early conceptual stages and faces significant hurdles in securing Congressional approval.

What to watch

Sandia National Laboratories will present the concept to the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which would then request funding from Congress. Until approval, the current Z machine will continue its 200 annual shots, each requiring the refurbishment of its central stainless steel cones.