Pulsed Power Experiments for Studying Feedthrough of Instabilities and Mix

Understanding the impact of hydrodynamic perturbations transmitted through thin, dense layers is important for inertial confinement fusion ignition schemes, particularly double- or multi-shell systems. Experiments to validate our understanding are challenging as they necessarily involve multiple interfaces, materials, transmitted and reflected shocks, etc. We present experimental data for a Z Machine platform investigating the Richtmyer-Meshkov process and interfacial feedthrough, from both single mode profiles and interacting 2D defects. The pulsed-power driven platform is a cylindrical liner filled with liquid deuterium and another, inner cylinder either with a LiH fill or a liquid deuterium fill and center steel rod. The nested cylinders are magnetically imploded with >20 MA of current along the outer cylinder only, driving a converging shock that propagates towards the central axis and generating a high plasma-beta system suitable for investigating high-energy-density hydrodynamical processes. These experiments test and validate aspects of transmitted instability theory and feedthrough, including the qualitative difference in behavior between long and short wavelength modes, and the cumulative impact of interacting defects onto interior layers.