Single-feature perturbation seeded Rayleigh-Taylor instability studied in planar geometry

The Rayleigh-Taylor instability (RTI) has been identified as one of the largest inhibitors to high-gain inertial confinement fusion experiments. Thus, understanding RTI growth from single-feature perturbations, such as those caused by engineering features in capsules, and the potential damping effects of externally applied magnetic fields on instability growth is crucial. A National Laser User Facility (NLUF) experimental campaign has been developed to study single-feature perturbation seeded RTI studied on the Omega EP facility. The preliminary results from the first shot day of the experiment are presented. The simulation results focus on an unmagnetized shot configuration to observe the evolution of thin-layer theory RTI growth and validate platform performance. The effect of an externally applied magnetic field on the RTI growth and morphology will be investigated in the second shot day of the NLUF experimental campaign. The experimental configuration is simulated utilizing FLASH's HD capabilities.