Suppression of Rayleigh--Taylor instability by the snowplow mechanism

Journal Article · Thu Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Physics of Fluids B; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.860974· OSTI ID:6685221

Gol'berg, S M ^[1]; Velikovich, A L ^[2]

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1. Branch of I. V. Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy, Troitsk 142092 (Russian Federation)
2. Russian Federation Research Institute of Metrological Service, Moscow 117965 (Russian Federation)

Rayleigh--Taylor instability developing in a layer of matter accelerated by the pressure of magnetic field or of a light fluid is shown to be suppressed if the accelerated layer scoops unperturbed matter, entraining it into motion. This stabilizing mechanism is effective for plasma focus devices, multicascade systems like magneto-cumulative (MC) generators of high-pulsed magnetic fields or multiple gas-puff [ital Z] pinches, for impact acceleration of thin foils by high-velocity plasma clouds. Linear stability analysis of one-dimensional solutions of the piston problem demonstrates that perturbation of the given wavelength [lambda] does not grow appreciably until the thickness of the accelerated layer [ital L]([ital t]) exceeds [lambda]. Before that, if acceleration is increased rapidly enough, amplitudes of the long-wavelength perturbations remain almost constant. If acceleration is increased not too rapidly, stays constant, or is decreased, then the long-wavelength perturbations with [lambda][ge]2[ital L]([ital t]) are damped.

• OSTI ID: 6685221
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids B; (United States), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids B; (United States) Vol. 5:4; ISSN PFBPEI; ISSN 0899-8221
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700340* -- Plasma Waves
Oscillations
& Instabilities-- (1992-)
ACCELERATION
COMPRESSION
INSTABILITY
OPEN PLASMA DEVICES
PLASMA FOCUS DEVICES
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
RAYLEIGH-TAYLOR INSTABILITY
SHOCK WAVES
STABILIZATION
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES