EFFECTS OF RANDOM MOTIONS ON CRITICAL-POINT MEASUREMENTS - LIQUID-GASSYSTEMS IN MICROGRAVITY

The effects of random accelerations on the measurements of quantities in the vicinity of the liquid-gas critical point are considered when t he system is in a microgravity environment. These accelerations couple to the order parameter through the transverse component of the veloci ty field, whose dynamics are also governed by critical point propertie s of the liquid-gas system. The action of the accelerations is amplifi ed by the singular static and dynamic response of the gas-liquid syste m. A general formulation, based on ''model H'' critical dynamics allow s for the calculation of a variety of quantities. It is found that the random accelerations expected in a microgravity environment will not compromise the accuracy of any experiment that is currently envisioned .