Ablative Rayleigh-Taylor instability in three dimensions

Journal Article · Tue May 15 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Physical Review, A (General Physics); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.41.5695· OSTI ID:6846478

Dahlburg, J P; Gardner, J H ^[1]

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1. U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375 (US)

A fully three-dimensional (3D) laser-matter interaction code is developed and used to investigate 3D mixing mechanisms in planar targets accelerated by single-sided laser illumination. While linear Rayleigh-Taylor growth rates from 3D perturbed simulations are identical to those obtained from 2D simulations, nonlinear evolution differs significantly. Vortex stretching alters the ablative flow pattern. Subsequently, the 3D Rayleigh-Taylor spikes are larger in cross section than the 2D spikes, indicating a higher rate of mixing.

• OSTI ID: 6846478
• Journal Information: Physical Review, A (General Physics); (USA), Journal Name: Physical Review, A (General Physics); (USA) Vol. 41:10; ISSN PLRAA; ISSN 0556-2791
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
ABLATION
COMPUTER CODES
FLUID MECHANICS
HEATING
HYDRODYNAMICS
INSTABILITY
LASER TARGETS
LASER-RADIATION HEATING
MECHANICS
PLASMA HEATING
RAYLEIGH-TAYLOR INSTABILITY
TARGETS
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS