Synergistic mitigation of the Rayleigh–Taylor instability in Z-pinch implosions by sheared axial flow and finite Larmor radius effect

Abstract

The synergistic stabilizing effect of sheared axial flow (SAF) and finite Larmor radius (FLR) on the Rayleigh–Taylor instability in Z-pinch implosions is considered by means of the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations. The SAF is introduced into the MHD equations in a conventional way and the FLR is introduced in the same way as used by Roberts and Taylor [Phys. Rev. Lett. 8, 197 (1962)]. Therefore, the linearized MHD equations include both SAF and FLR effects. The results indicate that in the whole wavenumber region the synergistic effect of FLR and SAF can mitigate the Rayleigh–Taylor instability; at low flow velocity the synergistic effect of FLR and the SAF is slightly (∼10%) stronger than the mitigation effect of FLR alone and remarkably stronger than the mitigation effect of the SAF alone; at higher flow velocities in the large wavenumber region (for normalized wavenumber κ>2.4) the synergistic effect of FLR and the SAF is remarkably stronger than the mitigation effect due to either one of the two, respectively, and in the small wavenumber region (κ<2.4) it is stronger than the mitigation effect due to either one of the two, respectively.