Two-dimensional modeling of the dynamics and radiation output from magnetically driven Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities in hollow z-pinches

A two-dimensional computational methodology has been developed which uses a phenomenological representation of initial perturbations to model the evolution of magnetically driven Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities in a hollow z-pinch. The drive current waveform and x-ray output obtained from the perturbed two-dimensional models differ qualitatively from the results of one-dimensional (unperturbed) models. The results form the perturbed model reproduce the principle features of z-inch experiments conducted on the Los Alamos Pegasus 2 facility. The authors discuss the computational approach used in this study and present comparisons between simulations and experimental measurements of current waveforms, visible framing camera pictures, spectra, XRD and bolometry data