US to test fighter jet materials with world’s brightest X-rays for Mach 7 speed

A research team from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, is developing a novel device to test materials for hypersonic aircraft capable of flying at Mach 5 to Mach 7 speeds. Supported by a $1.4 million contract from the U.S. Department of Defense Joint Hypersonics Transition Office, the device aims to replicate the extreme heat and stress conditions experienced during hypersonic flight without relying on energy-intensive wind tunnels. This approach leverages the recently upgraded Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne, which now produces X-ray beams up to 500 times brighter than before, enabling real-time, high-resolution analysis of material changes under simulated hypersonic conditions. The project addresses a critical engineering challenge: developing materials that are simultaneously thin and lightweight yet strong enough to endure the intense pressures, heat fluxes, and skin friction encountered at hypersonic speeds. Traditional testing methods are limited in accessibility and