Effect of resistivity on the Rayleigh-Taylor instability in an accelerated plasma

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.48.3849· OSTI ID:5835722

Castillo, J L ^[1]; Huerta, M A ^[2]

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1. Departamento de Fisica Fundamental, Universidad Nacional de Educacion a Distancia, Apartado 60141, Madrid 28080 (Spain)
2. Physics Department, University of Miami, P. O. Box 248046, Coral Gables, Florida 33124 (United States)

We study the Rayleigh-Taylor instability in finite-conductivity accelerated plasma arcs of the type found in electromagnetic rail launchers. For a plasma of length [ital l], acceleration [ital a], and thermal speed [ital v][sub [ital T]] we consider the case where [ital v][sub [ital T]][sup 2]/[ital al][much gt]1, which is valid when the projectile mass is large compared to the plasma mass. The conductivity [sigma] enters via a magnetic Reynolds number [ital R]=[sigma][mu]([ital al][sup 3])[sup 1/2]. The fourth-order mode equation is solved analytically using an asymptotic WKB expansion in 1/[ital R]. We find the first-order 1/[ital R] correction to the classical Rayleigh-Taylor dispersion relation for large wave number [ital K] but with [ital K][much lt][ital R][sup 2]/[ital l]. The analytical results show good agreement with previous numerical calculations.

• OSTI ID: 5835722
• Journal Information: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics; (United States), Vol. 48:5; ISSN 1063-651X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
PLASMA ACCELERATION
RAYLEIGH-TAYLOR INSTABILITY
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
DISPERSION RELATIONS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
REYNOLDS NUMBER
WKB APPROXIMATION
ACCELERATION
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
INSTABILITY
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
700340* - Plasma Waves
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