Fourier-space nonlinear Rayleigh-Taylor growth measurements of 3D laser-imprinted modulations in planar targets.
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.
Smalyuk
V A
VA
Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA.
Sadot
O
O
Delettrez
J A
JA
Meyerhofer
D D
DD
Regan
S P
SP
Sangster
T C
TC