Recent advances in the turbulent Rayleigh-Taylor instabilitya)
Abstract
In the turbulent Rayleigh-Taylor instability, the light fluid penetrates the heavy fluid as bubbles with a diameter Db and amplitude hb that grow self-similarly Db∝hb∼αbAgt2 where A is Atwood number, g is acceleration, and t is time. Experiments measure an acceleration constant αb∼0.04-0.08 whereas the highest resolution three-dimensional numerical simulations obtain αb∼0.02-0.03 with idealized initial conditions. This paper reconciles this apparent discrepancy with new simulations that quantify the importance of initial conditions on αb. The results compare favorably with experiments and a model based on self-similar bubble dynamics.
- Publication:
-
Physics of Plasmas
- Pub Date:
- May 2005
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.1871952
- Bibcode:
- 2005PhPl...12e6301D
- Keywords:
-
- 52.35.Py;
- 52.30.-q;
- 52.35.Ra;
- 52.65.-y;
- Macroinstabilities;
- Plasma dynamics and flow;
- Plasma turbulence;
- Plasma simulation