Computational modeling of classical and ablative Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities

Modeling nine simulations using the one-dimensional Lagrangian radiation-hy drodynamics code HYADES are compared with data from classical and ablative Rayleigh-Taylor experiments conducted on the Nova laser. Comparisons betwee n the experiments amd modeling for both the gross hydrodynamic motion and t he perturbation evolution are made and show good agreement. A third order p erturbation analysis is applied to demonstrate the onset of nonlinearity. A simple, physically intuitive saturation model is used to describe the grow th further into the nonlinear regime. Finally, we present the first compari son of the Betti ablation front theory with indirect-drive RT data and obta in good agreement.