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Here we see a KDP crystal hanging from a glass rod within a supersaturated solution of KDP in
water. The excess KDP salt adjacent to the crystal deposits on the crystal surface and the salt
concentration in the solution momentarily diminishes. Thus, the solution adjacent to the crystal
becomes lighter than the rest of the solution and a buoyant plume is formed. The crystal
rotation is zero in this experiment. The buoyant plume has been visualized by a monochrome
schlieren technique with a helium‐neon laser as a light source. The field of view is initially dark.
The convection currents represent density (and hence refractive index) gradients, causing the
light beam to refract and create bright streaks over the screen. The solution away from the
crystal is undisturbed and the screen continues to remain dark. |
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