Equilibrium shape of a molten silicon drop in an electromagnetic levitatorin microgravity environment

For the electromagnetic levitation of a molten silicon drop in a microgravi ty environment, the effect of the electric current ratio of the heating coi ls to the levitation coils on the equilibrium drop shape was numerically in vestigated, using the mathematical model based on the hybrid finite element and boundary element methods. As a result, it was found that the drop shap e becomes more prolate as the current ratio increases, and the calculated r esults were in good agreement with the experimental ones obtained in a micr ogravity environment using a drop tower.