Quantitative determination of zero-gravity effects on crystal growth from the melt (experiment MA-060)

The purpose of experiment MA-060 was to investigate quantitatively the effects of near-zero gravity conditions on crystal growth and dopant segregation during directional solidification from the melt. Gallium-doped germanium single crystals were successfully grown from the melt with simultaneous interface demarcation during the Apollo Soyuz Test Project mission. The analysis of the experimental data indicates striking differences of dopant segregation and growth behavior in the presence and absence of gravity. The results obtained are believed to have far-reaching implications on materials processing under zero-gravity conditions and on the theory of crystal growth and segregation in general.