High Mach number mix instability experiments of an unstable density interface using a single-mode, nonlinear initial perturbation

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1999 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.873707· OSTI ID:688013

Farley, D R; Peyser, T A; Logory, L M; Murray, S D; Burke, E W ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551 (United States)

The growth of an unstable density interface from a nonlinear, single-mode, two-dimensional initial perturbation (10 {mu}m amplitude; 23 {mu}m wavelength) has been studied experimentally using a miniature shock tube attached to a gold hohlraum irradiated by the Nova laser [J. T. Hunt and D. R. Speck, Opt. Eng. {bold 28}, 461 (1989)]. The initial perturbation was machined into a brominated plastic ablator (1.22 g/cm{sup 3}) adjacent to a low density carbon foam (0.10 g/cm{sup 3}). Upon laser illumination of the hohlraum and x-ray ablation of the plastic, a strong shock wave (Mach{approximately}30) propagated across the perturbed density interface causing the onset of the Richtmyer{endash}Meshkov (RM) instability. The interface subsequently experienced a relatively weak Rayleigh{endash}Taylor (RT) unstable deceleration. The nonlinear growth of the mixing layer was obtained from time-resolved radiography of the x-ray transmission through the shock tube, and the decompression-corrected results were compared to published incompressible models, including a Lagrangian energy formulation. The experimental data were also compared with the results of two-dimensional numerical simulation.

• OSTI ID: 688013
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 6; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
GOLD
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
MACH NUMBER
PERTURBATION THEORY
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA SIMULATION
RAYLEIGH-TAYLOR INSTABILITY
SHOCK WAVES