Author(s)

M.E. Glicksman, M.B. Koss, A. Lupulescu, L.A. Tennenhouse & J.C. LaCombe

Abstract

Dendritic growth is one of the archetypes of free-boundry phase transistions, and, as such, has been studied in great detail. The Isothermal Dendritic Growth Experiment (IDGE) is a NASA-developed space flight instrument designed to specifically provide long-duration microgravity experiments to measure the kinetics, morphology, and dynamics of dendritic solidification under diffusion control. Microgravity effectively eliminates most of the convective heat transport experienced under terrestrial conditions. Specifically, the IDGE provides millikelvin temperature measurement and control, and provisions for gathering the high-resolution digital and conventional optical photomicrography required for tracking tine details of the moving solid-melt boundary

Keywords