Non-Linear Ablative Rayleigh-Taylor Instability: Increased Growth due to Self-Generated Magnetic Fields

Simulations of inertial confinement fusion (ICF) capsules suggest hot-spot perturbation growth is enhanced by self-generated magnetic fields [1]. This work studies the Rayleigh-Taylor instability (RTI) with Biermann battery magnetic field generation to show how the enhanced growth depends on perturbation size and wavelength. This theory is broken into 3 key stages. First, the magnetic flux generation around a single spike is found to be proportional to the spike height (this agrees with more detailed scalings [2]). Second, the peak electron magnetization is strongly enhanced by Nernst advection to the tip of the spike, with a strong wavelength dependence. Lastly, the change in spike velocity depends on both the suppressed thermal conduction and enhanced Righi-Leduc heat-flow. The overall non-linear ablative RTI theory can then be used to estimate the impact of self-generated magnetic fields in ICF implosions, as these fields are not typically incorporated into modelling. A discussion of the potential impact of magnetic fields on high-yield experiment N210808 will also be included.