We present data from recent high-energy-density laboratory experiments designed to explore the Rayleigh– Taylor instability under conditions relevant to supernovae. The Omega laser is used to create a blast wave structure that is similar to that of the explosion phase of a core-collapse supernova. An unstable interface is shocked and then decelerated by the planar blast wave, producing Rayleigh...

Blast-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been a common cause of injury in the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Blast waves can damage blood vessels, neurons, and glial cells within the brain. Acutely, depending on the blast energy, blast wave duration, and number of exposures, blast waves disrupt the blood-brain barrier, triggering microglial activation and neuroinflammation. Rec...

I analyse the identified single-particle pt spectra and two-pion Bose-Einstein correlations from RHIC. They indicate a massive transverse expansion and rather short lifetime of the system. The quantitative analysis in framework of the blast-wave model yields, however, unphysical results and suggests that the model may not be applicable in description of two-particle correlations. I then discuss...

The submarine H.L. Hunley was the first submarine to sink an enemy ship during combat; however, the cause of its sinking has been a mystery for over 150 years. The Hunley set off a 61.2 kg (135 lb) black powder torpedo at a distance less than 5 m (16 ft) off its bow. Scaled experiments were performed that measured black powder and shock tube explosions underwater and propagation of blasts throu...

Gamma-ray burst (GRB) engines are probed most intimately during the prompt gamma-ray luminous phase when the expanding blast wave is closest to the explosion center. Using GRBs 990123 and 940217 as guides, we briefly review observations of high-energy emission from GRBs and summarize some problems in GRB physics. γγ transparency arguments imply relativistic beaming. The parameters that go into ...

This paper describes a new concept for propelling a projectile to hypervelocities and demonstrates the feasibility by numerical simulations. The concept employs imploding blast waves to accelerate a projectile which travels down a launch tube. The launch tube can be open to the atmosphere or sealed and maintained at some low pressure to minimize drag. The launch tube has a liner that contains a...

Polarization of the optical emission from GRB 990123 was measured on 24.17 January 1999 universal time with the Nordic Optical Telescope. An upper limit of 2.3% on the linear polarization was found. Accurate polarization measurements provide important clues to the blast wave geometry and magnetic field structure of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). The lack of detectable polarization for GRB 990123 indi...

The paper is concerned with the development of a fast, accurate, and versatile method of simulating the propagation of a blast wave within complex built environments. An ability to complete a simulation of the propagation of a blast wave within a few seconds or minutes is an essential tool for evaluating its impact on key structures and to find an optimal design for components such as blast bar...

Nowadays, tunneling in urban areas is a common activity for a variety of transportations such as subways, water supply, lifelines andsewers that may require blast operations. The characteristics of stress waves of the blast are quite different from earthquake waves. The blast waves are usually of high frequency content, short duration, equality of amplitudes in horizontal and vertical direction...