Analysis of Surface Tension from Aerodynamic Levitation of Liquids

Aerodynamic levitation allows contactless diagnostics of very high-temperature liquid properties. Liquids can be metals or inorganic compounds, and the levitation gas may have any composition. Temperature limitation is dependent on the heating power and radiative properties of the samples, with 3000°C possible for oxides. Surface-tension measurement is based on previous theories, which relate it to specific vibrations of the drop. Rotation and precession of liquid drops are specific aspects of aerodynamic levitation, and their effects are quantified here. Experimental examples for nickel and alumina are also shown and compared with results from previous experiments, when available.