Magnetic field generation by the Rayleigh-Taylor instability in laser-driven planar plastic targets

Magnetic fields generated by the Rayleigh-Taylor instability were measured in laser-accelerated planar foils using ultrafast proton radiography.

Thin plastic foils were irradiated with $\sim$4-kJ, 2.5-ns laser pulses focused to an intensity of $\sim$10$^{14}$ W$/$cm$^{2}$ on the OMEGA EP Laser System.

Target modulations were seeded by laser nonuniformities and amplified during target acceleration by the Rayleigh-Taylor instability.

The experimental data show the hydrodynamic evolution of the target and MG-level magnetic fields generated in the broken foil.

The experimental data are in good agreement with predictions from 2-D magnetohydrodynamic simulations.