The role of hydrodynamic instabilities in inertial confinement fusion

Understanding and estimating the nonlinear evolution of hydrodynamic instabilities is crucial in achieving inertial confinement fusion (ICF). The evolution of the Rayleigh-Taylor and Richtrnyer-Meshkov instabilities from multimode initial perturbation was recently studied by two complementary approaches, the statistical mechanics bubble-merger model and the the modal model. The results for the in- stabilities bubble and spike front penetration as well as the structural evolution of the mixing zone will be presented using both models. Comparison to recent experiments, confirming the evolution predicted in these studies, will be presented. (author)