The late time structure of high density contrast, single mode Richtmyer-Meshkov flow

Abstract

We study the late time flow structure of Richtmyer-Meshkov instability. Recent numerical work has suggested a self-similar collapse of the development of this instability at late times, independent of the initial surface profile. Using the form of collapse suggested, we derive an analytic expression for the mass-velocity relation in the spikes, and a global theory for the late time flow structure. We compare these results with fluid dynamical simulation.