Design optimization for Richtmyer—Meshkov instability suppression

The Richtmyer—Meshkov instability (RMI) is a phenomenon that occurs at the interface of two substances of different densities due to an impulsive acceleration, such as a shock wave passing through this interface. Under these conditions, the instability can be seen as interface perturbations begin to grow into jets or spikes of one substance that propagate into the other. The control of RMI growth is one major limiting factor for technological challenges such as inertial confinement fusion, which involves using high-pressure shock waves to implode a fuel target. RMI growth can lead to asymmetry in the implosion process that significantly reduces the energy yield. This work is at the forefront of understanding RMI and designing for the suppression and control of perturbation growth. We use hydrodynamic simulations of impactor shock-wave experiments and design optimization to suppress RMI growth by altering the geometry and other properties of a shocked material target. Our results show that RMI suppression can be achieved by intentionally creating a secondary instability to counteract RMI growth at a perturbed interface.