Oscillations of the crystallization front of adsorbed water

Relaxation oscillations of the crystallization front in a gradient temperat ure field have been observed for water adsorbed on a metal film deposited o n a glass substrate. The metal film plays an important role in heat removal from the crystallization front and determines the existence of oscillation s. A possible mechanism is proposed for the development of oscillations. It is shown that the oscillations observed are similar to the oscillations of the front of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis. (C) 2000 MAIK "N auka / Interperiodica".