Yuko Inatomi

In this study, we proposed a moved-view analysis, a method for obtaining the Soret coefficient S_T by analyzing the interference fringe change during field-of-view movement in the steady state. This analysis was designed to solve the problem that the sign of the concentration gradient could also be reversed if the plot of the concentration distribution was only slightly shifted owing to the narrow field of view. The data obtained from the experiment conducted to measure S_T at the International Space Station were analyzed using moved-view analysis. For the moved-view analysis, the linearity of the concentration distribution induced by the Soret effect is larger than that for the method without field-of-view movement, and a more reliable S_T can be obtained. The analysis error that sometimes occurred when the laser wavelength switched led to the underestimation of the phase change Δϕ, resulting in generating the data with low linearity. This unreliable data should be removed.

InxGa1−xSb bulk crystal was grown using a GaSb (seed)/InSb/GaSb (feed) sandwich-structured system onboard the International Space Station (ISS). In order to investigate the transport phenomena especially in terms of interface shapes and dissolution heights, the dissolution process was simulated under a micro-gravity level of the ISS. Simulation results showed that the seed/melt interface was concave towards the seed due to the temperature distribution of the system. This prediction is in good agreement with the results of our previous experimental study.