Planar Foil MRT Instability Measurements Using a 1-MA LTD

ORAL

Abstract

Initial dynamic load experiments were performed on UM's 1-MA linear transformer driver (LTD) facility, MAIZE, to characterize magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor (MRT) instability growth and plasma dynamics on planar-foil plasmas. The loads utilized a double current return plate geometry with a 400 nm-thick Al foil positioned between the return plates. Magnetic pressure accelerated the foil plasma to drive MRT instability that was measured using shadowgraphy. Plasma dynamics were observed to be dominated by an initial expansion phase where both foil interfaces were found to be MRT unstable with 85-105 ns e-folding times.

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Authors

  • J.C. Zier

    University of Michigan, Naval Research Laboratory

  • D.A. Chalenski

    University of Michigan

  • S.G. Patel

    University of Michigan

  • D.M. French

    University of Michigan

  • R.M. Gilgenbach

    University of Michigan, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

  • M.R. Gomez

    University of Michigan, Sandia National Labs

  • Y.Y. Lau

    University of Michigan, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, U of Michigan, Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

  • A.M. Steiner

    University of Michigan

  • I.M. Rittersdorf

    University of Michigan, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

  • Matthew Weis

    University of Michigan, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

  • M.G. Mazarakis

    Sandia National Labs

  • M.R. Lopez

    Sandia National Labs

  • M.E. Cuneo

    Sandia National Labs, Sandia National Laboratories, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87185, USA