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Title: On a variational formulation of the weakly nonlinear magnetic Rayleigh–Taylor instability

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5132750· OSTI ID:1605728

The magnetic-Rayleigh–Taylor (MRT) instability is a ubiquitous phenomenon that occurs in magnetically-driven Z-pinch implosions. It is important to understand this instability since it can decrease the performance of such implosions. In this work, I present a theoretical model for the weakly nonlinear MRT instability. I obtain such a model by asymptotically expanding an action principle, whose Lagrangian leads to the fully nonlinear MRT equations. After introducing a suitable choice of coordinates, I show that the theory can be cast as a Hamiltonian system, whose Hamiltonian is calculated up to the sixth order in a perturbation parameter. The resulting theory captures the harmonic generation of MRT modes. It is shown that the amplitude at which the linear magnetic-Rayleigh–Taylor instability exponential growth saturates depends on the stabilization effect of the magnetic-field tension. Overall, the theory provides an intuitive interpretation of the weakly nonlinear MRT instability and provides a systematic approach for studying this instability in more complex settings.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525
OSTI ID:
1605728
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1601906
Report Number(s):
SAND-2020-2688J; 684470; TRN: US2104457
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 27, Issue 2; ISSN 1070-664X
Publisher:
American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 5 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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