BEHAVIOR OF LIQUID-NITROGEN BETWEEN ELECTRODES IN A MICROGRAVITY ENVIRONMENT

The motion of boiling liquid nitrogen (LN(2)) between electrodes and i ts surface profile in a microgravity environment just after release fr om terrestrial gravity are observed. The dynamic behaviour is analysed considering the following forces: the Maxwell stress, surface tension and viscosity, and is explained consistently by theory including thes e forces. The velocity of the liquid driven by the Maxwell stress and the capillary force (surface tension) is compared with that driven by the capillary force only. The growth dynamics of bubbles produced on t he surface of electrodes is discussed. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Limit ed