The magneto-Rayleigh–Taylor instability in dynamic z pinches

• Published in: Laser and particle beams Vol. 19; no. 4; pp. 527 - 540
• Main Authors: DOUGLAS, M.R., DE GROOT, J.S., SPIELMAN, R.B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01.10.2001
• Subjects: Dynamic stability; Exact sciences and technology; Foils; Interface stability; Magnetic confinement and equilibrium; Magnetohydrodynamic simulation; Physics; Physics of gases, plasmas and electric discharges; Physics of plasmas and electric discharges; Plasma macroinstabilities (hydromagnetic, eg, kink, fire-hose, mirror, ballooning, tearing, trapped-particle, flute, Rayleigh-Taylor, etc.); Plasma macroinstabilities (magnetohydrodynamic, e.g., kink, fire-hose, mirror, ballooning, tearing, trapped-particle, flute, rayleigh-taylor, etc.); Taylor instability; Theta pinch; Waves, oscillations, and instabilities in plasmas and intense beams; Z-PINCH ARTICLE; Plasma simulation; Pinch devices; Rayleigh-Taylor instability; Magnetic confinement; Plasma instability; Implosions; Tungsten; X-ray sources; Confined plasma; Longitudinal pinch; Wire; Electric fields
• ISSN: 0263-0346; 1469-803X
• DOI: 10.1017/S0263034600194029

The magneto-Rayleigh–Taylor (MRT) instability limits the performance of dynamic z pinches. This instability develops at the plasma-vacuum/field interface, growing in amplitude throughout the implosion, thereby reducing the peak plasma velocity and spatial uniformity at stagnation. MRT instabilities are believed to play a dominant role in the case of high wire number arrays, gas puffs and foils. In this article, the MRT instability is discussed in terms of initial seeding, linear and nonlinear growth, experimental evidence, radiation magnetohydrodynamic simulations, and mitigating schemes. A number of experimental results are presented, where the mitigating schemes have been realized. In general, the problem is inherently three dimensional, but two-dimensional simulations together with theory and experiment enhance our physical understanding and provide insight into future load design.