Deceleration stage Rayleigh-Taylor instability studied in planar and cylindrical geometries

The Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) instability has been identified as one of the largest inhibitors to successful inertial confinement fusion experiments. Thus, understanding the RT instability growth during deceleration and the potential damping effect externally applied magnetic fields can have on instability growth is crucial. A study in planar and cylindrical geometry demonstrates the potential for measurable damping of the RT instability growth during deceleration in the presence of a magnetic field. Planar and cylindrical parameters are derived from experimental designs for NIF. The configurations are simulated utilizing FLASH's MHD capabilities, as well as Ares MHD capabilities.