%0 Journal Article
%T Observation of Rayleigh-Taylor-Instability Evolution in a Plasma with Magnetic and Viscous Effects
%A Colin S. Adams
%A Auna L. Moser
%A Scott C. Hsu
%J Physics
%D 2014
%I arXiv
%R 10.1103/PhysRevE.92.051101
%X We present time-resolved observations of Rayleigh--Taylor-instability (RTI) evolution at the interface between an unmagnetized plasma jet colliding with a stagnated, magnetized plasma. The observed instability growth time ($\sim 10$~$\mu$s) is consistent with the estimated linear RTI growth rate calculated using experimentally inferred values of density ($\sim 10^{14}$~cm$^{-3}$) and deceleration ($\sim 10^9$~m/s$^2$). The observed mode wavelength ($\gtrsim 1$~cm) nearly doubles within a linear growth time. Theoretical estimates of magnetic and viscous stabilization and idealized magnetohydrodynamic simulations including a physical viscosity model both suggest that the observed instability evolution is subject to magnetic and/or viscous effects.
%U http://arxiv.org/abs/1412.6033v4