Nonlinear Rayleigh-Taylor Evolution of a Three-Dimensional Multimode Perturbation

Abstract

The ablation front Rayleigh-Taylor evolution of a well-characterized 3D multimode surface perturbation was measured on a foil accelerated with an x-ray drive as it progressed into the weakly nonlinear regime. The perturbation pattern was locally random and consisted of modes within the first ten harmonics of a $300\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ square. The pattern evolved into bubbles separated by narrow, interconnecting spike sheets, unambiguously indicating entry into the nonlinear regime. Nonlinear effects occurred when mode amplitudes were relatively small: ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{n}\ensuremath{\ll}{\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{n}/10$. Experimental results are in quantitative agreement with results of our numerical simulations.