This paper presents a comparison of Haan's mode coupling model with two-dimensional hydrocode simulations. In the light of these results, a new saturation criterion is developed that is used in a new, extended mode coupling model. The new extended model accurately follows the mode development to amplitudes 2 to 3 times larger than Haan's model.

The growth of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability in three dimensions is ex amined during the deceleration phase of an inertial confinement fusion implosion. A detailed discussion of the three-dimensional hydrocode, PLATO, is presented. A review of previous calculations is given, concentrating on theshape of the R-T instability in three dimensions. Results of the growth rate during the linear phase, the saturation amplitude, and the nonlinear evolution are presented.

Experiments to demonstrate the effects of various beam-smoothing techniques have been performed on the 60-beam, 30-kJ UV OMEGA laser system. These include direct measurements of the effect beam-smoothing techniques have on laser beam nonuniformity and on both planar and spherical targets. Demonstrated techniques include polarization smoothing and “dual-tripler” third-harmonic generation required for future broad bandwidth (∼1 THz) smoothing by spectral dispersion (SSD). The effects of improvements in single-beam uniformity are clearly seen in the target-physics experiments, which also show the effect of the laser pulse shape on the efficacy of SSD smoothing. Saturation of the Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) growth of the broad-bandwidth features, in agreement with the Haan model (Haan, 1989), produced by laser imprinting has also been observed.