Evolution of helical perturbations in a thin-shell model of an imploding liner

Abstract

A thin-shell model of the liner stability has been revisited and applied to the stability of the helical perturbations. Several stages of the implosion have been identified, starting from a long initial “latent” phase of an almost resting liner, continuing to the second stage of a rapid contraction and significant perturbation growth, and then transitioning to the third stage where perturbations become ballistic and highly non-linear. The stage of stagnation and rebound is beyond the scope of this paper. An importance of vorticity conservation during the late stages is emphasized. Nonlinear evolution of perturbations is followed up to the point of the formation of cusp structures. Effects of in-surface flows and of their enhancement due to the vorticity conservation are discussed. It is shown that the pre-machined perturbations created only on the outer surface of the liner grow much slower than one could anticipate. The limitations on the thin-shell description are discussed.