Rayleigh-Taylor Growth Measurements of Three-Dimensional Modulations in a Nonlinear Regime

Journal Article · Fri Jun 09 00:00:00 EDT 2006 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2174826· OSTI ID:883190

Smalyuk, V A; Sadot, O; Betti, R; Goncharov, V N; Delettrez, J A; Meyerhofer, D D; Regan, S P; Sangster, T C; Shvarts, D

An understanding of the nonlinear evolution of Rayleigh–Taylor (RT) instability is essential in inertial confinement fusion and astrophysics. The nonlinear RT growth of 3-D broadband nonuniformities was measured near saturation levels using x-ray radiography in planar foils accelerated by laser light. The initial 3-D target modulations were seeded by laser nonuniformities and subsequently amplified by the RT instability. The measured modulation Fourier spectra and nonlinear growth velocities are in excellent agreement with those predicted by Haan’s model.

• Research Organization: Laboratory for Laser Energetics
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FC52-92SF19460
• OSTI ID: 883190
• Report Number(s): DOE/SF/19460-674; 1636; 2005-127
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 13
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English