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Here we see a KDP crystal placed over 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 rises from the corners of the
crystal. The crystal is not given any rotation in these experiments.
The plume has been visualized by a color schlieren technique. The bluish‐purple background
arises from the blue color of the rainbow filter initially picked up by the light beam, before the
start of the experiment.
Compared to video 3, the crystal size is marginally greater, yielding stronger convection
currents in the crystal growth chamber. In the absence of crystal rotation, the finite size of the
crystal growth chamber ensures that a convection pattern is set‐up in the entire solution.
Portions of the fluid move up while, elsewhere, the fluid particles move downwards, thus
creating a complete recirculation pattern. |
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