Rayleigh-Taylor instability

Rayleigh-Taylor Instability occurs when a denser fluid is above a lighter fluid, causing instability due to gravity. Imagine a jar with oil on top of water; if disturbed, the denser oil will start to break through, creating patterns like fingers or bubbles. This phenomenon is relevant in various fields, including astrophysics, materials science, and oceanography. It helps explain processes such as star formation or the mixing of different fluids in nature. Understanding this instability aids in predicting behavior in scenarios where fluid layers interact under gravitational forces.