Fourier-space nonlinear Rayleigh-Taylor growth measurements of 3D laser-imprinted modulations in planar targets

Phys Rev Lett. 2005 Nov 18;95(21):215001. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.215001. Epub 2005 Nov 15.

Abstract

Nonlinear growth of 3D broadband nonuniformities was measured near saturation levels using x-ray radiography in planar foils accelerated by laser light. The initial target modulations were seeded by laser nonuniformities and later amplified during acceleration by Rayleigh-Taylor instability. The nonlinear saturation velocities are measured for the first time and are found to be in excellent agreement with Haan predictions. The measured growth of long-wavelength modes is consistent with enhanced, nonlinear, long-wavelength generation in ablatively driven targets.