IMAGES OF UNSTABLE TAYLOR-SEDOV BLAST WAVES PROPAGATING THROUGH A UNIFORM GAS

We present images from the first observation and measurements of an in stability in Taylor-Sedov blast waves propagating through a uniform ba ckground gas [1]. The instability occurs when the adiabatic index of t he background gas is low, Images of the expanding blast waves are dark field shadowgraphs obtained using a frequency-doubled (527 nm) pulsed YAG laser and black and white photographic film. The film images are digitized, and image processing routines are used for analysis and pre sentation.