Transition of oscillatory floating half zone convection from Earth's gravity to microgravity

Abstract

Oscillatory features of floating half zone convection were experimentally studied by using the drop shaft facility of Japan Microgravity Center which supported microgravity period of 10 s. Coordinated measurements including free surface deformation and oscillation, temperature and flow pattern in both 1g and micro-g environment were obtained. The oscillatory frequency and amplitude in micro-g condition were lower and larger than the ones in 1-g condition, respectively. The results gave, at first time, the oscillatory features such as free surface wave in micro-g, coordinated measurements of more than two physical quantities in the micro-g, and transition of thermocapillary oscillatory convection from 1-g to micro-g.