Direct-drive cylindrical implosion experiments: Simulations and data

We have studied a suite of cylindrical, polystyrene targets, both unperturb ed and with mode-28, 1.5 mu m initial-amplitude sinusoidal perturbations im posed azimuthally along the target length. All targets are driven by direct laser illumination at 3 omega using the University of Rochester OMEGA lase r facility. Our numerical simulation and experimental data demonstrate the proof of principle for direct-drive studies of complex hydrodynamic phenome na in convergent geometry. We obtain high-quality, time-dependent data, tha t demonstrate good implosion symmetry and against which numerical simulatio ns show promising agreement within currently assessed error bars. Our resul ts identify operational space for continuing experiments.