Optical observation of solid-melt interface fluctuation due to Marangoni flow in a silicon liquid bridge

We observed fluctuation of the three-phase (solid, melt and ambient atmosph ere) boundary position in silicon liquid bridges. We proved by measuring in terface fluctuation and temperature fluctuation simultaneously that this in terface fluctuation is caused by the formation and fluctuation of asymmetri cal temperature field due to Marangoni Row instability. The amplitude of in terface fluctuation decreased with increasing oxygen partial pressure. This decrease in interface fluctuation suggests that oxygen partial pressure is a factor that influences Marangoni flow in molten silicon. (C) 2001 Elsevi er Science B.V. All rights reserved.