Experiments on the single-mode Richtmyer-Meshkov instability with reshock at high energy densities

The hydrodynamic instability growth of a reshocked single-mode interface between high energy density fluids is studied. A laser-driven shock wave is used to drive an initially solid, sinusoidal interface between a dense plastic (1.43g/cc) and a light foam (approximate to 0.110g/cc). After the interface has grown to a nonlinear state where the amplitude is of order of the wavelength, it is reshocked. The reshock compresses the nonlinear perturbation, which then grows at about twice the rate. While the pre-reshock growth rate is sensitive to the initial amplitude and wavelength of the perturbation, the post-reshock growth rate is comparatively insensitive to the initial condition. Qualitatively, we observe that the perturbations are less coherent after reshock, consistent with the idea that having a reshock accelerates the transition to turbulence. We find that some memory of the initial condition remains, even after reshock at late time: it appears if the initial perturbations have large enough wavelengths, and the flow structure of size comparable to the initial wavelength persists through reshock. Our results agree with design simulations and are consistent with the phenomenology of reshock studies in conventional gaseous shock tubes. Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.

Automated summary

The hydrodynamic instability growth of a reshocked single-mode interface between high energy density fluids is studied. It is found that the reshock accelerates the transition to turbulence and the post-reshock growth rate is insensitive to the initial condition.