Image processing of radiographs in 3D Rayleigh-Taylor decelerating interface experiments

• Published in: Astrophysics and space science Vol. 322; no. 1-4; pp. 49 - 55
• Main Authors: Kuranz, C. C., Drake, R. P., Grosskopf, M. J., Robey, H. F., Remington, B. A., Hansen, J. F., Blue, B. E., Knauer, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-08-2009; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Astrobiology; Astronomy; Astrophysics; Astrophysics and Astroparticles; Cosmology; Lasers; Observations and Techniques; Original Article; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Radiography; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics; Supernovae; Laboratory astrophysics; Hydrodynamic instabilities
• ISSN: 0004-640X; 1572-946X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10509-008-9967-4

This paper discusses high-energy-density laboratory astrophysics experiments exploring the Rayleigh-Taylor instability under conditions similar to the blast wave driven, outermost layer in a core-collapse supernova. The planar blast wave is created in an experimental target using the Omega laser. The blast wave crosses an unstable interface with a seed perturbation machined onto it. The perturbation consists of a 3D “egg crate” pattern and, in some cases, an additional longer wavelength mode is added to this 3D, single-mode pattern. The main diagnostic of this experiment is x-ray radiography. This paper explores an image processing technique to improve the identification and characterization of structure in the radiographic data.