Gravitational Sensitivity of Melts at the Growth of InSb:Te Crystals by the Bridgman and Floating Zone Methods under the Conditions of Microgravity

The comparative analysis of the results of space and ground-based experiments IMET RAS on the growth of InSb:Te crystals by the Bridgman method and floating zone method (FZM) is made for the purpose of studying the influence of microgravity on the growth, structure, and properties of grown crystals, and thus the gravity sensitivity of InSb melt is demonstrated. It is shown that, under microgravity conditions, the Bridgman method makes it possible to grow InSb:Te crystals without contact with the ampoule walls, which provides for the single crystal structure, the absence of striations, and a low dislocation density. For the first time, InSb:Te monocrystals were grown with the FZM under microgravity. The anomalous behavior of the impurity core (facet effect) in these crystals correlates with the changed magnitude and direction of the quasi-stationary (residual) microaccelerations.     

Vibration controlled convection — preparation and perspective of the Maxus 4 experiment

A comparatively new possibility to influence convection in crystal growth melts is the application of controlled interface vibration, especially in systems with free melt surfaces like the float-zone process. The present paper concerns the development and testing of a vibrational device which will be integrated into a microgravity crystal growth facility for the growth of silicon crystals. In the case of silicon grown by the float-zone technique, time-dependent thermocapillary convection is present even under mirogravity and leads to unfavourable variations of the crystal composition profile.The developed setup can operate in the range of approximately 0.1 to 50kHz producing maximum amplitudes of 0.25μm (non resonance case) and 3.5μm (resonance case) respectively. The power consumption is below 5W, the maximum operation temperature of the device is restricted to 200°C, limited by an epoxy-based connection between vibrator and sample. The first microgravity application will be during the European Maxus 4 campaign in April 2001.     

Effects of Constant and Variable Accelerations on Crystals Grown onboard Spacecraft by the Method of Directional Crystallization

The effect of constant and time-dependent accelerations (vibrations) on the melt flow and heat and mass transfer in the process of crystal growth by the method of directional crystallization (Bridgman method) onboard spacecraft is numerically investigated. The mathematical formulation of the problem and the technique to solve it numerically are given. The time-averaged flow arising under the action of vibrations in a nonisothermal fluid is investigated. With the help of a rational choice of dimensionless similitude parameters, a generalized dependence on the intensity of melt flow is obtained for the radial segregation of dopants. This dependence is invariant with respect to the type of motive power and thermal boundary conditions in the region of very small velocities of melt flow (creeping flow), which are characteristic for microgravity conditions. The allowable levels of constant accelerations, as well as the frequency dependences of tolerable vibrations, are obtained for five typical semiconductor materials: Ge(Ga), GaAs(Te), InSb(Te), Si(P), and Si(B). It is shown that the radial segregation of dopant is much more sensitive to microaccelerations than the axial one. In the region of small velocities, the latter is determined by the duration of the transition regime, which depends on certain physical properties of the melt. New problems that resulted from the investigations performed are discussed.     

不同尺度下相变材料熔化过程自然对流影响分析

为了解自然对流对固液相变传热的影响,采用有限容积法对重力条件下矩形腔内相变材料熔化过程进行了数值模拟。通过改变矩形腔的尺寸,分析了不同尺度对高温壁面平均Nu数(Nu数)及相变材料温度场、速度场的影响。结果表明:随着尺度增加,自然对流作用增强,Nu数逐步增大,液相区流动从稳定向周期振荡过渡,且流线越来越不规则。     

Effects of Local Detachment of a Melt from Ampoule Walls,Crystal Vibration,and Magnetic Field at Crystal Growth under Zero Gravity

A numerical investigation of the melt flow and heat and mass transfer is carried out at the crystal growth under zero gravity, when the melt detachment from ampoule walls, crystal vibration, and various magnetic fields are active. Specific features of the melt flow are demonstrated depending on the size of a detachment zone adjacent to the crystallization boundary. The velocity of the averaged flow generated by crystal vibration is determined as a function of the vibration intensity. It is shown that the crystal vibration cannot compensate a thermal capillary flow (caused by detachment of the melt from the ampoule wall) and reduce the macrosegregation of impurities. It is shown that the application of steady and rotating magnetic fields are inefficient for all ampoule methods of crystal growth under microgravity conditions.     

Effect of liquid bridge form on oscillatory thermocapillary convection under 1 g and μg conditions

This study analyses the effect of temperature difference between hot and cool disk (ΔT), and non-dimensional liquid bridge volume (V/V_o) on the transition process from steady thermocapillary convection to periodic or chaotic thermocapillary convection in a liquid bridge modeled after the floating zone method under normal gravity and microgravity conditions. From normal gravity and drop shaft experiments, the difference of the regime of the steady state and the oscillatory state was clarified on the ΔT−V/V_o plane under 1 g and μg conditions. A gap or stability region was observed in the specific V/V_o range under 1 g conditions. In the gap or stable region, after the gravity changed from 1 g to μg conditions, the temperature signals showed oscillation. From these results, the critical temperature difference under the μg conditions appeared to be smaller than that under the 1 g conditions. Temperature signals were defined as 6 different types of states. The various temperature oscillatory state regimes were obtained on a ΔT−V/V_o plane under 1 g and μg conditions. Under μg conditions, in these experimental conditions, all temperature oscillatory states exhibited only the Periodic state.     

Investigation of thermosolutally caused convection during -growth of BiSbTe3-mixed crystals at normal and reduced gravity

BiSbTe₃-mixed crystals have been grown at normal and reduced gravity (during the MIR'97-mission) using a -configuration of the TITUS facility. The distribution of the components in the melt, and so the homogeneity of the growing crystal, is strongly influenced by the flow in the melt even in the case of weak convection. The flow configuration in the melt especially in front of the solid-liquid phase boundary can be investigated by means of a segregation analysis of the system components and an additional Pb-dopant. The BiSbTe₃-system is because of its hydro-dynamic properties a typical representative of semiconductor melts (low number, high number) but there are also some special properties relating to the segregationally caused enrichment of the lighter tellurium at the phase boundary and the resulting solutal destabilities. Experimental experiences from segregation analysis have shown that the mass transport in the melt at normal gravity is mainly influenced by convective mixing determined by thermally and solutally caused buoyancy forces. Numerical simulations have been performed for the real experimentally used configurations. These simulations have shown that a strong coupling of thermal and solutal effects exists and have given axial as well as radial segregation profiles being in excellent agreement with the experimental results for the vertical normal gravity grown crystals. For micro gravity conditions a reduction of the flow velocity of more than two orders of magnitude (depending on the micro gravity level and the direction of the residual acceleration) resulting in diffusion controlled component segregation has been predicted.The results of the two micro gravity grown crystals, especially the axial and radial segregation profiles as a sensitive indicator for the flow configuration in front of the phase boundary will be given and discussed in the paper. They will be compared with the results of numerical simulations of the melt flow for the real processing parameters measured during the TITUS growth processes and with experimental as well as numerical results for vertical normal gravity grown reference Samples.     

Investigation of thermosolutally caused convection during Bridgman-growth of BiSbTe3-mixed crystals at normal and reduced gravity

BiSbTe₃-mixed crystals have been grown at normal and reduced gravity (during the MIR'97-mission) using a Bridgman-configuration of the TITUS facility. The distribution of the components in the melt, and so the homogeneity of the growing crystal, is strongly influenced by the flow in the melt even in the case of weak convection. The flow configuration in the melt especially in front of the solid-liquid phase boundary can be investigated by means of a segregation analysis of the system components and an additional Pb-dopant. The BiSbTe₃-system is because of its hydro-dynamic properties a typical representative of semiconductor melts (low Prandtl number, high Schmidt number) but there are also some special properties relating to the segregationally caused enrichment of the lighter tellurium at the phase boundary and the resulting solutal destabilities. Experimental experiences from segregation analysis have shown that the mass transport in the melt at normal gravity is mainly influenced by convective mixing determined by thermally and solutally caused buoyancy forces. Numerical simulations have been performed for the real experimentally used configurations. These simulations have shown that a strong coupling of thermal and solutal effects exists and have given axial as well as radial segregation profiles being in excellent agreement with the experimental results for the vertical normal gravity grown crystals. For micro gravity conditions a reduction of the flow velocity of more than two orders of magnitude (depending on the micro gravity level and the direction of the residual acceleration) resulting in diffusion controlled component segregation has been predicted.The results of the two micro gravity grown crystals, especially the axial and radial segregation profiles as a sensitive indicator for the flow configuration in front of the phase boundary will be given and discussed in the paper. They will be compared with the results of numerical simulations of the melt flow for the real processing parameters measured during the TITUS growth processes and with experimental as well as numerical results for vertical normal gravity grown reference Samples.     

Modeled microgravity increases filamentation, biofilm formation, phenotypic switching, and antimicrobial resistance in Candida albicans

Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen responsible for a variety of cutaneous and systemic human infections. Virulence of C. albicans increases upon exposure to some environmental stresses; therefore, we explored phenotypic responses of C. albicans following exposure to the environmental stress of low-shear modeled microgravity. Upon long-term (12-day) exposure to low-shear modeled microgravity, C. albicans transitioned from yeast to filamentous forms at a higher rate than observed under control conditions. Consistently, genes associated with cellular morphology were differentially expressed in a time-dependent manner. Biofilm communities, credited with enhanced resistance to environmental stress, formed in the modeled microgravity bioreactor and had a more complex structure than those formed in control conditions. In addition, cells exposed to low-shear modeled microgravity displayed phenotypic switching, observed as a near complete transition from smooth to "hyper" irregular wrinkle colony morphology. Consistent with the presence of biofilm communities and increased rates of phenotypic switching, cells exposed to modeled microgravity were significantly more resistant to the antifungal agent Amphotericin B. Together, these data indicate that C. albicans adapts to the environmental stress of low-shear modeled microgravity by demonstrating virulence-associated phenotypes.     

Floating zone experiments with germanium crystals in sounding rockets

A floating zone experiment with a coated surface was performed in a sounding rocket. Analysis of the segregation showed that elimination of free surfaces decreased the convection in the liquid zone. Analysis of radial segregation during floating zone crystal growth under different experimental conditions demonstrated high sensitivity to interface shape and to convection. Under conditions of very weak convection, microgravity and coated surfaces, dopant concentration fields giving severe radial segregation were built up.     

浸渗时间对C/C-SiC复合材料显微结构和力学性能的影响

采用反应熔体浸渗法,经不同的浸渗时间渗Si制备了3种不同的C/C-SiC复合材料,测试了材料的增重率、体积密度、断裂韧性及三点弯曲强度,分析了材料的物相组成,并观察了材料的显微结构.结果表明,在得到的C/C-SiC复合材料中,主要存在纳米级和微米级2种尺度的SiC颗粒,随着浸渗时间延长,材料的体积密度和SiC含量随之增加,但抗弯强度随之降低.浸渗时间从0.5 h延长到5 h,材料的密度从2.16 g·cm-3增加到2.21 g·cm-3,SiC的质量百分含量从21.54%增加到31.72%,三点弯曲强度从133 MPa下降到86 MPa,3种复合材料均表现出一种类似于金属材料的非脆性断裂行为,断裂应变约为1.3%,断裂韧性为9～10 MPa·m1/2.     

Gravitational Convection of a Liquid Mixture in a Horizontal Cylindrical Gap at Moderate Grashof Numbers

Weak concentration convection which arises in the process of diffusion of impurities into the solvent filling a gap between two coaxial cylinders is studied experimentally. It is found that convective motion in the range of Grashof numbers 10³–5 × 10⁴ has a clear boundary-layer character. Near the inner porous cylinder, which is a source of impurity, a diffusion boundary layer passing into a two-dimensional convective plume is formed. The data on the structure and thickness of this layer are presented depending on the integral flux of impurity. The prospects of making an experiment in order to discover concentration convection onboard an orbital station are discussed.     

Modeling of liquid encapsulated gallium melts

Liquid encapsulation crystal growth from the melt plays an important role in space processing. Use of an encapsulant may avoid evaporation of volatile components and may control thermocapillary flow, which becomes important in microgravity. In the present work the fluid physics of encapsulated liquid gallium is studied analytically and numerically in preparation to forthcoming experiments. It is shown that flow in the viscous encapsulant is essentially negligible and that liquid encapsulation reduces flow velocities in the encapsulated electronic melt. Flow velocity in the gallium is the main parameter in the studies.     

Non-intrusive,three-dimensional temperature and composition measurements inside fluid cells in microgravity using a confocal holography microscope

Application of a confocal scanning laser holography (CSLH) microscope to the study of fluid flow in a microgravity environment is described herein. This microscope offers a new, non-intrusive means to determine three-dimensional density gradients within solid objects, fluids, and plasmas, including flames. The index-of-refraction is determined from the phase measurements of the microscope, which is a function of the object temperature and composition. The object being studied is a fluid-cell chamber, which is heated and cooled on opposing walls to produce a steady-state fluid flow due to convection and heat transfer. The holograms are created from the interference of a “known” reference beam with an “unknown” object beam. A three-dimensional amplitude and phase image of the object is produced by the reconstruction of many holograms, where each hologram represents a scanned point inside the object.     

Early renal changes in 45 degrees HDT rats

Background: Both microgravity and simulated microgravity models, such as the 45HDT (45 degrees head-down tilt), cause a redistribution of body fluids indicating a possible adaptive process to the microgravity stressor. Understanding the physiological processes that occur in microgravity is a first step to developing countermeasures to stop its harmful effects, i.e., (edema, motion sickness) during long-term space flights. Hypothesis: Because of the kidneys' functional role in the regulation of fluid volume in the body, it plays a key role in the body's adaptation to microgravity. Methods: Rats were injected intramuscularly with a radioactive tracer and then lightly anesthetized in order to facilitate their placement in the 45HDT position. They were then placed in the 45HDT position using a specially designed ramp (45HDT group) or prone position (control group) for an experimental time period of 1 h. During this period, the 99mTc-DTPA (technetium-labeled diethylenepentaacetate, MW=492 amu, physical half-life of 6.02 h) radioactive tracer clearance rate was determined by measuring gamma counts per minute. The kidneys were then fixed and sectioned for electron microscopy. A point counting method was used to quantitate intracellular spaces of the kidney proximal tubules. Results: 45HDT animals show a significantly (p=0.0001) increased area in the interstitial space of the proximal tubules. Conclusions: There are significant changes in the kidneys during a 1 h exposure to a simulated microgravity environment that consist primarily of anatomical alterations in the kidney proximal tubules. The kidneys also appear to respond differently to the initial periods of head-down tilt.     

Modeling of Plasma Density in the Earth's Dayside Inner Magnetosphere

The results of comparison of the model profiles of density, obtained by means of the CDPDM model, with the experimental data of the ISEE-1 satellite for the years 1977–1983 are presented. The hypothesis on the validity of the mirror mapping of the convection boundary relative to the dawn–dusk direction is verified. An attempt to improve the CDPDM model for the dayside is made.     

小行星星壤低速侵入过程力学响应的实验研究

为研究小行星星壤在低速侵入过程中的力学响应,利用落塔实验舱构建微重力环境,制备典型的无黏性星壤模拟物,利用恒速加载方式模拟采样器等装置侵入星壤的过程,测量了模拟物的承载强度和边界应力随沉降深度的变化,并记录了模拟物表面形貌的变化过程。实验结果表明,微重力下星壤的承载能力较地球重力环境下大大降低,其响应特性更接近于流体,且与侵入速度、星壤孔隙率、颗粒粒径级配、侵入体尺寸等因素相关联。实验结果可为小行星表面着陆和采样装置的设计与验证提供重要数据支撑。     

G-300, the first French Getaway Special microgravity measurements of fluid thermal conductivity

On Earth thermal conductivity measurements on liquids are difficult to perform because thermal motions due to convection. In microgravity the convection due to buoyancy is evanescent and we expect a strong lowering of Rayleigh and Nusselt numbers. Three low viscosity liquids are selected to carry out the measurements: distilled water (standard) and two silicone oils. We use a modified “hot plate” method with a simplified guard ring, the lowering of convective motions let us to use in the experimental cells larger interplate distances and/or temperature differences than in earth measurements so the accuracy must be improved. Comparisons between Earth and orbit results may help to understand the convection occurrence in our cells. G-300 payload is cantilevered from the experiment mounting plate (EMP) and it includes: four struts, an intermediate plate, a bottom plate with four bumpers, a battery box, an electronic rack and six experimental cells assembled in twin-packs thermally coupled with the EMP. Thermal, vibration and EMI tests have proved that the design satisfies the Nasa requirements and acceptance is in progress.     

Thyrotropin receptor and membrane interactions in FRTL-5 thyroid cell strain in microgravity

The aim of this work was to analyze the possible alteration of thyrotropin (TSH) receptors in microgravity, which could explain the absence of thyroid cell proliferation in the space environment. Several forms of the TSH receptor are localized on the plasma membrane associated with caveolae and lipid rafts. The TSH regulates the fluidity of the cell membrane and the presence of its receptors in microdomains that are rich in sphingomyelin and cholesterol. TSH also stimulates cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation and cell proliferation. Reported here are the results of an experiment in which the FRTL-5 thyroid cell line was exposed to microgravity during the Texus-44 mission (launched February 7, 2008, from Kiruna, Sweden). When the parabolic flight brought the sounding rocket to an altitude of 264?km, the culture media were injected with or without TSH in the different samples, and weightlessness prevailed on board for 6 minutes and 19 seconds. Control experiments were performed, in parallel, in an onboard 1g centrifuge and on the ground in Kiruna laboratory. Cell morphology and function were analyzed. Results show that in microgravity conditions the cells do not respond to TSH treatment and present an irregular shape with condensed chromatin, a modification of the cell membrane with shedding of the TSH receptor in the culture medium, and an increase of sphingomyelin-synthase and Bax proteins. It is possible that real microgravity induces a rearrangement of specific sections of the cell membrane, which act as platforms for molecular receptors, thus influencing thyroid cell function in astronauts during space missions.