INFLUENCE OF CORIOLIS-FORCE ON THERMAL-CONVECTION AND IMPURITY SEGREGATION DURING CRYSTAL-GROWTH UNDER MICROGRAVITY

In contrast with the generally accepted viewpoint, it is shown that th e Coriolis force caused by rotation of an orbital station can apprecia bly affect natural convection and impurity distribution during the gro wth of crystals from a melt in orbital flight conditions. 2D and 3D st eady and oscillatory convection in a rectangular enclosure is consider ed. The resonance phenomenon arising due to the interaction of the Cor iolis force and harmonic oscillations of the gravity force is demonstr ated. It is shown that for moderate values of the Ekman number the Cor iolis force suppresses convection in one direction and amplifies it in the other, which in turn results in deformation of the impurity distr ibution over the cross-section of the crystal.