A Critical Analysis of Rayleigh–Taylor Growth Rates

Recent simulations of Rayleigh–Taylor instability growth rates display considerable spread. We provide evidence that differences in numerical dissipation effects (mass diffusion and viscosity) due to algorithmic differences and differences in simulation duration are the dominant factors that produce such different results. Within the simulation size and durations explored here, we provide evidence that the principal discrepancies are due to numerical dispersion through comparison of simulations using different algorithms. We present new 3D front tracking simulations that show tentative agreement with the range of reported experimental values. We begin an exploration of new physical length scales that may characterize a transition to a new Rayleigh–Taylor mixing regime.