Observation of Rayleigh-Taylor-instability evolution in a plasma with magnetic and viscous effects
- Los Alamos National Lab., Los Alamos, NM (United States); Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Los Alamos National Lab., Los Alamos, NM (United States)
We present time-resolved observations of Rayleigh-Taylor-instability (RTI) evolution at the interface between an unmagnetized plasma jet colliding with a stagnated, magnetized plasma. The observed instability growth time (~10μs) is consistent with the estimated linear RTI growth rate calculated using experimentally inferred values of density (~1014cm–3) and deceleration (~109 m/s2). The observed mode wavelength (≳1 cm) nearly doubles within a linear growth time. Furthermore, theoretical estimates of magnetic and viscous stabilization and idealized magnetohydrodynamic simulations including a physical viscosity model both suggest that the observed instability evolution is subject to magnetic and/or viscous effects.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC52-06NA25396
- OSTI ID:
- 1234926
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 1225390
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-14-29580; PLEEE8
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics, Vol. 92, Issue 5; ISSN 1539-3755
- Publisher:
- American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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