In the present study we performed an experimental
investigation of the Rayleigh–Taylor instability
(RTI) in a mixing zone between two gases entrapped into
accelerated motion by a nonstationary compression wave.
Acceleration g was ∼1.5·107
cm/s2, Atwood numbers ranged from 0.04 to 0.77.
A mixing zone was formed by an oxygen-hydrogen mixture
and an inert gas (Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe) or SF6. The
initial gas pressure was 0.5 atm. A specific feature of
our experiment is compressibility of media tested and initially
continuous interface between gases of different densities.
The present work is a continuation of investigations on
nonlinear, transition, and early turbulent stages of the
RTI.